In the UK, the term "nonce" is a slang word primarily used to describe a person accused or convicted of a sexual offense, especially those involving children. It is often used as a derogatory term for pedophiles or child molesters. This slang usage is quite specific to British English and carries a very negative connotation. Besides this slang meaning, "nonce" also has other unrelated meanings in English, such as being a cryptographic term for something used only once, or the phrase "for the nonce," which means "for the present time" or "for the moment." However, in common UK slang and everyday use, "nonce" is predominantly associated with sexual offenders against children.
