-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Dgx0rxJP0oIdWfPB9tDBoH8VIS5Nh2wWHY3MpZ+NLnZUbLf83tZ+eRO9LN2+LuiA
 D6UYx1+CmPfuG9nHJbgpSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000072333-04-000264.txt : 20041203
<SEC-HEADER>0000072333-04-000264.hdr.sgml : 20041203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041203142321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000072333-04-000264
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041203

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:			0129

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAMPBELL PHYLLIS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001141648

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15059
		FILM NUMBER:		041183147

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 108TH AVENUE N.E.
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BELLEVUE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98004-5515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4254623155

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 108TH AVENUE N.E.
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BELLEVUE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98004-5515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-03</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001141648</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMPBELL PHYLLIS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE SEATTLE FOUNDATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>425 PIKE STREET, SUITE 510</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98101-2334</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1493</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Duane E. Adams, Attorney-in-Fact for Phyllis J. Campbell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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