annoyance

• annoyaunce (obsolete)
• annoying (obsolete)
• annoyment (nonstandard)

Inherited from Middle English anoyaunce (rare form of noyaunce), from Old French anuiance, anoiance, from the verb anuier (“to cause problems”), equivalent to annoy +‎ -ance. Compare French ennui.

• IPA^(key): /əˈnɔɪ.əns/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: an‧noy‧ance

annoyance (countable and uncountable, plural annoyances)

1. (countable) That which annoys.

   Having to wait 45 minutes for the bus is a real annoyance, but it's the only way to get to work.

2. (countable) An act or instance of annoying.
3. (uncountable) The psychological state of being annoyed or irritated.

   feeling mild annoyance

   • 2022, Candice Carty-Williams, People Person, Trapeze, page 273:

     ‘I’m not annoyed with you,’ Lizzie said, putting a hand on Dimple’s shoulder. ‘Well, I am. But you’re my sister. So the annoyance is nothing new.’

• nark

• “annoyance”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.