-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HkOVip5RXLdQGozlKZYPgo0WAeMZN8ZQbFmu5AFMq19HaF8PGs0y5yhKLesPN4S6
 HH3IvVZJhnUlijh/7cKtuw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000072333-04-000121.txt : 20040318
<SEC-HEADER>0000072333-04-000121.hdr.sgml : 20040318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040318123926
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000072333-04-000121
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030531
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHERN STEPHANIE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174708

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15059
		FILM NUMBER:		04677210

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
		STREET 2:		200 FRANKLIN SQUARE DR
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08875-680

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORDSTROM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072333
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				910515058
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 SEVENTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101-4407
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066282111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1770
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98111

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORDSTROM BEST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730611
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072333</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORDSTROM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHERN STEPHANIE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11 GREENBRIAR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLE FALLS,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07424</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1195</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2650</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock unit dividend paid on stock units deferred at the election of the reporting person under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock units are convertible into the issuer's common stock and payable upon the occurance of certain events, including the reporting person's retirement from the issuer's Board of Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Duane E. Adams, Attorney-in-Fact for Stephanie M. Shern</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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