A nonce word is a temporary neologism invented to serve a specific poetic moment, often for sound, rhythm, or untranslatable nuance; as a constraint, it limits the poet to creating lexically unique solutions within a poem’s internal logic—seen in works by Shakespeare, Hopkins, or Carroll—where such words enrich texture, defy dictionary boundaries, and underscore poetry’s capacity to reshape language itself.

Nonce word is a one-time coinage (“slithy”). Students invent context-specific terms. It fuels innovation and connects to Carroll and Dickinson, emphasizing poetry’s generative power.