nominative
Americanadjective
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Grammar.
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(in certain inflected languages, as Sanskrit, Latin, and Russian) noting a case having as its function the indication of the subject of a finite verb, as in Latin Nauta bonus est “The sailor is good,” with nauta “sailor” in the nominative case.
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similar to such a case in function or meaning.
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nominated; appointed by nomination.
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made out in a person's name, as a certificate or security.
noun
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the nominative case.
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a word in the nominative case.
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a form or construction of similar function or meaning.
adjective
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grammar denoting a case of nouns and pronouns in inflected languages that is used esp to identify the subject of a finite verb See also subjective
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appointed rather than elected to a position, office, etc
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bearing the name of a person
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of nominative
1350–1400; < Latin nominātīvus ( see nominate, -ive), replacing Middle English nominatif < Middle French < Latin as above
Vocabulary lists containing nominative
Conventions, Writing, and Speaking & Listening, Unit 1
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Conventions, Writing, and Speaking & Listening, Unit 3
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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.
Nominative determinism: With Craig Overton replacing Jake Ball in England’s XI, who are cricket’s other examples of nominative determinism?
From The Guardian • Dec. 1, 2017
Nominative determinism is a term coined by the New Scientist, referring to when people's names reflect, perhaps even determine, their job or their interests.
From The Guardian • Sep. 8, 2010
"You may remark yonder boxes with Nominative, Possessive, and such names painted upon them; it is my business to label my sister's goods, that they may be packed according to rule."
From The Crown of Success by A. L. O. E.
The Vocative is regularly like the Nominative, except in the singular of nouns in -us of the Second Declension.
From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)
In most words of this class the final -i of the stem is lost in the Nominative Singular; in others it appears as -e.
From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)
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.
