Nonetheless means “in spite of that” or “even so.” It's a way of saying that what you're about to mention is true despite what you just said.

If you tell your friend “I studied hard for the spelling test, but nonetheless I got several words wrong,” you're acknowledging that even though you prepared well, you still made mistakes. The word connects two ideas that seem to contradict each other but are both true.

You'll often see nonetheless at the beginning of a sentence or after a comma: “The weather forecast predicted rain. Nonetheless, we decided to have our picnic.” This means you went ahead with your plans even though conditions weren't ideal.

Nonetheless sounds more formal than everyday alternatives like “but,” “still,” or “anyway.” You might use it in a book report or presentation rather than chatting with friends: “The main character faced many obstacles. Nonetheless, she persevered and achieved her goal.”

The word has a determined feeling to it, as if you're pushing forward despite difficulties. When you use nonetheless, you're usually about to describe someone doing something brave, unexpected, or noteworthy in spite of the circumstances working against them.