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nominally

American

[nom-uh-nl-ee] / ˈnɒm ə nl i /

adverb

by or as regards name; in name; ostensibly.

He was nominally the leader, but others actually ran the organization.

Etymology

Origin of nominally

First recorded in 1655–65; nominal + -ly

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.

Yeah, the religious figure is nominally at the top of everything and, in fact, actually at the bottom of everything.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

It’s nominally about former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War, but Rhodes clearly intends the contemporary resonance:

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Worthy of debate, however, is how the pure fantasy landscape of “Avatar” fits in a park that still nominally tries to reflect California and our diversity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

The astronomer also said the star identified was slightly smaller than one scientists would "nominally expect to turn into a black hole."

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Was he nominally working with, or against, Obsle’s faction?

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023