Name:	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Adjustments to acquisition-related items that are required to be marked to fair value each reporting period, such as contingent consideration, and other items related to acquisitions for which the measurement period has ended.

No definition available.

Name:	nuan_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	nuan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Costs incurred to effect business combinations which have been expensed during the period. Such costs include the cost of integration-related services provided by third-parties; professional service fees, including direct third party costs related to the acquisition, and legal and other professional service fees associated with disputes and regulatory matters related to acquired entities.

No definition available.

Name:	nuan_BusinessCombinationProfessionalServiceFees
Namespace Prefix:	nuan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Costs incurred to effect a business combination which have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in fair value adjustment on other assets (liabilities) carried at fair value under the fair value option on the statement of cash flows of Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks).

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueAdjustmentsOnAssetsAndLiabilitiesCarriedAtFairValueUnderFairValueOption
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

A fee charged for services from professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The term is often expanded to include other professions, for example, pharmacists charging to maintain a medicinal profile of a client or customer.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.2(a),(b),(c),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873854&loc=SL114874292-224272

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873831&loc=SL114874205-224268