This list includes 25 Nouns that start with X, from “x-axis” to “xylophone”. Entries range from technical terms to common everyday words useful in music, science, and writing.
Nouns that start with X are nouns beginning with the letter X, including common, compound, and borrowed words. Many English X-nouns derive from Greek or scientific terms; “xylophone” remains a widely recognized example.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns “Noun”, “Definition”, and “Example”.
Noun: The word itself, shown for quick scanning and easy copying into your writing or study notes.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning that helps you understand usage and choose the correct word quickly.
Example: A short natural sentence showing real use, so you see context and correct grammar.
Nouns that start with X
| Noun | Countability | Plural | Frequency per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| x-ray | countable | x-rays | 8.0 |
| xylophone | countable | xylophones | 0.8 |
| xenophobia | uncountable | — | 1.8 |
| xenon | uncountable | — | 0.7 |
| xenophile | countable | xenophiles | 0.02 |
| xenophobe | countable | xenophobes | 0.3 |
| xi | countable | xis | 1.2 |
| xylem | uncountable | — | 0.1 |
| xenolith | countable | xenoliths | 0.01 |
| xenograft | countable | xenografts | 0.03 |
| xenobiotic | both | xenobiotics | 0.02 |
| xenogenesis | uncountable | — | 0.01 |
| xylitol | uncountable | — | 0.06 |
| xylan | uncountable | — | 0.01 |
| xylograph | countable | xylographs | 0.01 |
| xylography | uncountable | — | 0.01 |
| xebec | countable | xebecs | 0.01 |
| xerography | uncountable | — | 0.02 |
| xerosis | uncountable | — | 0.02 |
| xeriscape | both | xeriscapes | 0.01 |
| x-axis | countable | x-axes | 1.5 |
| x-factor | countable | x-factors | 0.9 |
| xanthoma | countable | xanthomas | 0.01 |
| xanthophyll | uncountable | — | 0.02 |
| xanthine | uncountable | — | 0.01 |
Descriptions
x-ray
A photographic or digital image produced by X‑rays for internal examination and diagnosis. The doctor ordered an x-ray of her injured shoulder.
xylophone
A musical instrument with wooden bars struck by mallets to produce pitched notes. The child practiced difficult xylophone pieces every afternoon.
xenophobia
An irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures. Reports highlighted rising xenophobia after the political debate.
xenon
A colorless, heavy noble gas used in lighting and specialized lamps. The camera flashed with a bright xenon strobe light.
xenophile
A person who is attracted to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs. As a true xenophile, she collected international recipes and stories.
xenophobe
Someone who dislikes or fears foreigners or strangers, often irrationally. The politician criticized the actions of local xenophobes.
xi
The 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, used in mathematics and science symbols. In the equation, xi represented a random variable.
xylem
The plant tissue that transports water and minerals from roots to shoots. Under the microscope, the xylem vessels looked like tiny tubes.
xenolith
A fragment of rock foreign to the igneous body in which it is embedded. Geologists examined the xenolith trapped in the lava flow.
xenograft
A surgical transplant of tissue taken from a different species to a human recipient. The surgeon discussed risks of a possible xenograft procedure.
xenobiotic
A chemical compound foreign to a living organism, often environmental or synthetic. Scientists measured concentrations of xenobiotics in river water samples.
xenogenesis
The hypothetical or biological process by which offspring differ fundamentally from their parents. The book explored myths about spontaneous xenogenesis in folklore.
xylitol
A sugar alcohol used as a low‑calorie sweetener in chewing gum and foods. He chewed gum sweetened with xylitol after lunch.
xylan
A type of complex carbohydrate (hemicellulose) found in plant cell walls. Researchers studied xylan breakdown in the composting process.
xylograph
A print or block made by printing from a carved wooden block; a woodcut print. The museum displayed an antique xylograph from the 1800s.
xylography
The art or process of engraving on wood and producing prints from those blocks. She enrolled in a weekend course on traditional xylography techniques.
xebec
A small, fast Mediterranean sailing ship with three masts, used historically for trade. The museum model showed a painted wooden xebec from the 1700s.
xerography
A dry photocopying technique used in printers and copiers to reproduce documents. The office bought a new copier using xerography technology.
xerosis
Medical condition of abnormal dryness, especially of skin or eyes. Cold weather worsened the patient’s xerosis on her hands.
xeriscape
A style of landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. They planned a xeriscape with drought‑tolerant native plants.
x-axis
The horizontal reference line in a coordinate system used for plotting data points. Label the x-axis clearly on every graph.
x-factor
An unpredictable or special quality that gives someone or something exceptional appeal. Her confidence proved the x-factor in the audition.
xanthoma
A yellowish skin deposit often caused by fatty material accumulation under the skin. The dermatologist removed a small xanthoma from his eyelid.
xanthophyll
A yellow pigment found in plant leaves and essential to light absorption in photosynthesis. In autumn, xanthophylls contribute to the leaves’ color change.
xanthine
A bitter alkaloid compound found in bodily fluids and some plants, precursor to caffeine. The lab analyzed xanthine levels in the urine sample.