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

It will also support people with nappies, baby and family toiletries for a nominal fee, but that can be waived in certain circumstances.

Read more on BBC

Bank reserves as a share of nominal gross domestic product are roughly 10% today.

Read more on MarketWatch

That means New Yorkers are pushed into higher income brackets as their nominal wages climb over time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But administrators EY-Parthenon insisted the accounts had "nominal funds" in them when they were appointed.

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“The slump happened despite a decline in nominal and real bond yields, which usually help to support gold prices,” Deutsche Bank macro strategist Henry Allen said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• minimal 
• symbolic 
• token