nominal

American  

[nom-uh-nl] / ˈnɒm ə nl /

adjective

1. being such in name only; so-called; putative.

   a nominal treaty;

   the nominal head of the country.

   Synonyms:

   formal, titular

2. (of a price, consideration, etc.) named as a mere matter of form, being trifling in comparison with the actual or expected amount or value; minimal or insignificant.

   a nominal fee;

   a nominal improvement.

3. of, relating to, or constituting a name or names.

4. Grammar.

   1. of, relating to, or producing a noun or nouns.

      a nominal suffix.

   2. functioning as or like a noun.

5. assigned to a person by name.

   nominal shares of stock.

6. containing, bearing, or giving a name or names.

7. (of money, income, or the like) measured in an amount rather than in real value.

   Nominal wages have risen 50 percent, but real wages are down because of inflation.

8. Chiefly Aerospace. performing or achieved within expected, acceptable limits; normal and satisfactory.

   The mission was nominal throughout.

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noun

1. Grammar. a word or group of words functioning as a noun.

nominal British  

/ ˈnɒmɪnəl /

adjective

1. in name only; theoretical

   the nominal leader

2. minimal in comparison with real worth or what is expected; token

   a nominal fee

3. of, relating to, constituting, bearing, or giving a name

4. grammar of or relating to a noun or noun phrase

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noun

1. grammar a nominal element; a noun, noun phrase, or syntactically similar structure

2. Leisure:Bell-ringing the harmonic an octave above the strike tone of a bell

Other Word Forms

• nominally adverb
• prenominal adjective
• unnominal adjective
• unnominally adverb

Etymology

Origin of nominal

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English nominalle “of a noun,” from Latin nōminālis “of, belonging to a name or names, nominal,” equivalent to nōmin- (stem of nōmen ) + -ālis adjective suffix; nomen, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Modest inflation tends to reduce employers’ need to cut workers’ nominal wages during economic downturns.

From Barron's

And despite years of robust results from the annual wage negotiations—known as shunto—inflation has outpaced nominal wage growth in Japan, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Saturday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of the arrest of a Scottish nominal in Bali and we are working closely with European partners."

From BBC

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of the arrest of a Scottish nominal in Bali and we are working closely with European partners."

From BBC

In fact, the latest estimate of the nominal equilibrium rate implied by their model is just over 3.75%—at the top of the current target range for the federal funds rate.

From Barron's

Related Words

• minimal
• symbolic
• token