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

Derived Forms

• ˈnominally, adverb

Other Words From

• pre·nom·i·nal adjective
• un·nom·i·nal adjective
• un·nom·i·nal·ly 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

That said, his effect on the Hornets’s offense has been more than nominal.

From FiveThirtyEight

The climate Cabinet is much larger than just the nominal climate team, because almost every Cabinet job is actually a climate job.

From Washington Post

That’s thanks to a so-called 20% “promote,” which gives the sponsors of the deal, or those who formed the SPAC in the first place, 20% of the shares of the SPAC itself for a nominal price.

From Fortune

So if Democrats managed to win the Senate, they could try to preempt the Supreme Court by changing the penalty to a nominal sum like $1, or repealing the individual mandate entirely.

From FiveThirtyEight

The share prices of Apple and Tesla are at all-time highs—buying in now is expensive, at least historically speaking, no matter what the nominal share price says.

From Fortune

But the fighting continues, and grows worse, despite a nominal ceasefire.

From The Daily Beast

By contrast, incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn only faced nominal opposition in his primary.

From The Daily Beast

Its nominal charter was publishing, more or less quarterly, a humor magazine.

From The Daily Beast

It's common to view a nominal commitment to a Palestinian state as a public relations tactic.

From The Daily Beast

Since WWII, the US unemployment rate has averaged 8% when the short-term nominal T-bill rate is 2% or lower.

From The Daily Beast

He was young to be a colonel, but the title was merely nominal and complimentary, and not given for any service to his country.

From Project Gutenberg

The nominal intendente da policia is also the supreme judge in criminal cases.

From Project Gutenberg

The rule of the King, nominal within the walls of his own palace, was laughed at in the city and ignored beyond its walls.

From Project Gutenberg

Four nominal species of the genus Pipistrellus are currently recognized in North America.

From Project Gutenberg

Adiutrix for work elsewhere, it recalled both governor and legion, and gave up the more northerly of his nominal conquests.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• minimal
• symbolic
• token