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nominal

 - 4 dictionary results

nom⋅i⋅nal

  [nom-uh-nl]
Use nominal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. being such in name only; so-called; putative: a nominal treaty; the nominal head of the country.
2. (of a price, consideration, etc.) named as a mere matter of form, being trifling in comparison with the actual value; minimal.
3. of, pertaining to, or constituting a name or names.
4. Grammar.
a. of, pertaining to, or producing a noun or nouns: a nominal suffix.
b. 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. Aerospace. performing or achieved within expected, acceptable limits; normal and satisfactory: The mission was nominal throughout.
9. Slang. done smoothly as expected: The space shot was nominal, proceeding without a hitch.
–noun
10. Grammar. a word or group of words functioning as a noun.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME nominalle of a noun < L nōminālis of, belonging to a name, nominal, equiv. to nōmin- (s. of nōmen; see nomen ) + -ālis -al 1

Synonyms:
1. titular, formal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nominal
nom·i·nal   (nŏm'ə-nəl)   
adj.  

    1. Of, resembling, relating to, or consisting of a name or names.

    2. Assigned to or bearing a person's name: nominal shares.

    3. 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.

    4. Of, relating to, or being the rate of interest or return without adjustment for compounding or inflation.

  2. Existing in name only.

  3. Philosophy Of or relating to nominalism.

  4. Insignificantly small; trifling: a nominal sum.

  5. Business

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

n.   Grammar
A word or group of words functioning as a noun.

[Middle English nominalle, of nouns, from Latin nōminālis, of names, from nōmen, nōmin-, name; see n-men- in Indo-European roots.]
nom'i·nal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nominal 
c.1430, "pertaining to nouns," from L. nominalis "pertaining to a name or names," from nomen (gen. nominis) "name," cognate with O.E. nama (see name). Meaning "of the nature of names" (in distinction to things) is from 1620. Meaning "being so in name only" first recorded 1624.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: nom·i·nal
Pronunciation: 'nä-m&n-&l
Function: adjective
1 : existing or being something in name or form but usually not in reality nominal defendant in a derivative suit —Railroad C. Clark>
2 : being so small or trivial as to be a mere token nominal fee>
3 of a rate of interest a : equal to the annual rate of simple interest that would obtain if interest were not compounded when in fact it is compounded and paid for periods of less than a year b : equal to the percentage by which a repaid loan exceeds the principal borrowed with no adjustment made for inflation —compare EFFECTIVE 4 —nom·i·nal·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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