The abbreviation "nm" can have several meanings depending on the context:
- In internet slang, "nm" commonly stands for "not much" or "nothing much," used as a casual, noncommittal response to questions like "What's up?" or "What are you doing?" It can also imply boredom or a preference not to communicate at the moment
- In science and technology, "nm" is the symbol for nanometer, a unit of length in the metric system equal to one billionth of a meter (10⁻⁹ m). It is used to measure extremely small distances, such as wavelengths of light
- Other technical meanings include:
- Nautical mile (NM), a unit of distance used in maritime and aviation, equal to 1852 meters
* Nanomolar (nM), a concentration unit in chemistry
* Newton-metre (N·m), a unit of torque
- "NM" can also mean "never mind" in informal communication, though "nvm" is more typical for that usage
- Additionally, "nm" or "NM" can represent various organizations, places (like New Mexico), or terms in medicine and technology, but these are less common in everyday usage
In summary, the most frequent meanings are either the slang "not much" or the scientific unit "nanometer," depending on whether the context is casual conversation or technical measurement.
