[nom-uh-nl-iz-uh
m] 
| (in medieval philosophy) the doctrine that general or abstract words do not stand for objectively existing entities and that universals are no more than names assigned to them. Compare conceptualism, realism (def. 5a). |
| nom·i·nal·ism (nŏm'ə-nə-lĭz'əm) n. Philosophy The doctrine holding that abstract concepts, general terms, or universals have no independent existence but exist only as names. nom'i·nal·ist n., nom'i·nal·is'tic adj. |