Contingent Acquisition Payments (Detail) (J.A. Thomas and Associates [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012
J.A. Thomas and Associates [Member]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential CashPaymen	$ 25.0

Amount of potential cash payments that could result from the contingent consideration arrangement.

No definition available.

Name:	nuan_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashpaymen
Namespace Prefix:	nuan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant