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.
Randy Pitchford, owner of the Magic Castle, confirmed Wednesday that damage was minimal after a roof fire flared up at the property around 5 p.m.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The U.S. and Brazil, in turn, demonstrate minimal vulnerability, with zero or 1%, Wood Mackenzie says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
Such actions require minimal investment and pay dividends in positive environmental and social results, especially when compared to the tens of millions of dollars spent to lobby for environmental regulation reforms each year.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
"A youth movement will be more effective when internal divisions are minimal, there is ideological plurality without antagonism, and there are few established parties that can easily hijack the movement's results."
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
They were so minimal they only cast shadows—they seemed to emphasize the darkness, rather than fighting it.
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
