minimal

American  

[min-uh-muhl] / ˈmɪn ə məl /

adjective

1. constituting a minimum.

   a minimal mode of transportation.

2. barely adequate or the least possible.

   minimal care.

   Synonyms:

   minimum, nominal

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ˈminimal British  

/ ˈmɪnɪməl /

adjective

1. of the least possible; minimum or smallest

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Other Word Forms

• minimally adverb
• nonminimal adjective
• subminimal adjective

Etymology

Origin of minimal

First recorded in 1660–70; minim(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

These quiet compositions are both minimal and surreal, as the edge of a roaring fire is rendered in a delicate line, or a multicolored shrimp floats in the middle of a vacant plane.

From The Wall Street Journal

How has something temporary and so radical become, almost overnight and with minimal democratic debate, the orthodoxy?

From The Wall Street Journal

AI tools have shown they can generate working software applications with minimal developer assistance.

From The Wall Street Journal

The hack itself refers to meals that are prepared with minimal effort, minimal clean up and convenient ingredients that are often readily available in one’s refrigerator and pantry.

From Salon

That marks a reversal for the industry, which became a Wall Street darling thanks to pricey subscriptions, minimal capital expenditures and strong profit margins.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• basic
• essential
• minimum
• nominal
• token