Is the word both a noun?

"Both" is not typically used as a noun. It is usually a pronoun or a determiner.

Pronoun: "Both" refers to two things previously mentioned.

* Example: "I have two apples, and I ate both."

Determiner: "Both" modifies a noun, indicating that there are two of them.

* Example: "Both cars are red."

Noun: "Both" can be used as a noun in very specific, usually poetic or literary contexts, where it refers to the state of being two things at once.

* Example: "The duality of the human condition, the eternal both."

However, this usage is rare and may not be immediately recognizable by most speakers. In general, it's safe to assume "both" is a pronoun or a determiner.