nominal

[nom-uh-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.

noun

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

nominal

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nominal¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nominal¹

C15: from Latin nōminālis of a name, from nōmen name

Example Sentences

Investors appear more willing to bet on gold stocks as nominal and real rates move lower, which bolsters confidence in how long gold’s bull run can last.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The plaintiff is also naming the messaging app Telegram as a “nominal defendant” because ClothOff can be accessed on Telegram through automated programs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

MAS maintained the prevailing rate of appreciation of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate policy band, aiming to underpin medium-term price stability.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet even in nominal terms, the silver record had been one of the most enduring in financial markets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If California was a country, its economy would be ranked as the fourth-largest in the world, with a nominal gross domestic product of $4.1 trillion.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• minimal 
• symbolic 
• token