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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.

Despite an income transfer to the energy sector, personal income is up 4.5% nominally versus inflation’s nearly 3% clip.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 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

And what about the man who is nominally still running the country?

From Slate • Jan. 24, 2026

Thus I was only nominally depressed when I peered inside several damp houses known to contain student rooms.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

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