adjective
Other Word Forms
- minimally adverb
- nonminimal adjective
- subminimal adjective
Etymology
Origin of minimal
Explanation
Minimal means the smallest possible, or the least — as in, "She passed the test with minimal studying." Minimal can also mean simple, as in "The apartment had a minimal decor scheme: white walls, no art, a simple black couch." When there is "minimal supervision" at a slumber party, few grownups are present. When you spend the "minimal amount of money" on a trip, you won't be staying at the Ritz. If you grew up with minimal contact with one of your parents, you barely saw or spoke to them. If you like to keep things simple, you might call yourself a minimalist, or a believer in minimalism.
Vocabulary lists containing minimal
Life As We Knew It
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Southern California property survived the deadly January 2025 wildfires with only minimal damage to the backyard.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
“As a result, we estimate the net movement in revenue is minimal, and revisions in profit largely to the lower end of the fuel guide,” analyst Samuel Seow says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Options pricing for downside risk is notably cheaper, DeBusschere said, and recession risks are minimal.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
In contrast China, one of Sri Lanka's major investors and a long-standing ally, offered only minimal support, providing less than $2m in aid and around 100 tonnes of supplies.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
Miig crushed the tins as small as they could go so we could bury them along with our other minimal garbage by the latrine.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
