nominal

The definition of nominal is something that has almost no value or something that exists in name only.

(adjective)

An example of nominal is when a person in a court case is minimal damages of only $1 because he was wronged but didn't actually suffer any harm.

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See nominal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. of, consisting of, having the nature of, or giving a name or names
  2. of or having to do with a noun or nouns
  3. in name only, not in fact: the nominal leader
  4. very small compared to usual expectations; slight: a nominal fee

Origin: ME nominalle < L nominalis, of a name < nomen, name

noun

Linguis. a noun or other word or word group, including adjectives, that occurs in grammatical functions typical of nouns; substantive

See nominal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. a. Of, resembling, relating to, or consisting of a name or names.
    b. Assigned to or bearing a person's name: nominal shares.
  2. Existing in name only.
  3. Philosophy Of or relating to nominalism.
  4. Insignificantly small; trifling: a nominal sum.
  5. Business
    a. Of, relating to, or being the amount or face value of a sum of money or a stock certificate, for example, and not the purchasing power or market value.
    b. Of, relating to, or being the rate of interest or return without adjustment for compounding or inflation.
  6. Grammar Of or relating to a noun or word group that functions as a noun.
  7. Aerospace & Engineering According to plan or design: a nominal flight check.
noun
Grammar
A word or group of words functioning as a noun.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English nominalle, of nouns

Origin: , from Latin nōminālis, of names

Origin: , from nōmen, nōmin-, name; see nō̆-men- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • nomˈi·nal·ly adverb

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