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
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.
Cook, a polyglot who can speak six languages, has also been well served by nominative determinism: She is the founder and CEO of the Cook School Cooking School.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
It also said its references to PG-13 “qualify as nominative fair use.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025
In fact, it's one of the best cases of nominative determinism we've come across for a while.
From BBC • Dec. 16, 2022
The sport’s governing body made a provision for the 2020 Games that allowed athletes to lock up an individual nominative spot if they racked up enough points at World Cup events.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2021
Here are a few of them: The subject of a tensed verb must be in nominative case, such as I, he, she, and they.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
