WordGarden.ionominal
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɒmɪnəl/
US
- /ˈnɑmənəl/
Meanings
Adjective
existing in name only; officially designated but not actual or effective
very small or merely token in amount or cost
relating to nouns or noun phrases, or functioning as a noun in grammar
More meaningsFewer meanings
of a stated monetary value, especially one not adjusted for inflation or real purchasing power
Noun
a noun or noun phrase, or another expression functioning like one
Beyond the definition
"Nominal" can be a little tricky because it is used in a few different ways. Very often, it describes something that exists in name but is not very important in practice. Think of a "nominal fee" - it is a very small charge, more of a formality than a real price. A leader might have "nominal power," which means the title is official, but the real control lies somewhere else.
The word also appears in grammar, where it relates to nouns or to words and phrases that act like nouns. In science, engineering, and aviation, "nominal" has another common meaning: everything is working as expected and staying within the planned range. So the main idea is often the same: it points either to a name or label, or to something matching the stated plan.
"Nominal" is a flexible word with several related meanings, and they all connect in some way to names, labels, or stated values. One common meaning is "in name only." In this sense, something may officially exist, but it does not have much real force or importance. A person may hold a position of authority in a nominal way, while someone else makes the real decisions. The word can also describe a very small amount, especially money. A nominal fee or a nominal sum is small enough to be mostly symbolic.
You will often see this use in everyday writing about prices, fees, roles, and status. A nominal charge is not meant to reflect the full value of something. A nominal leader may be the official head, but not the person with real power. In these cases, the word draws attention to the gap between the label and the reality.
In grammar, "nominal" relates to nouns. It can describe a noun itself, or a word group that works like a noun in a sentence. This is a more technical use, but it is common in language study and grammar books.
In technical fields such as engineering, aviation, and spaceflight, "nominal" often means "normal" or "working as planned." If a system is operating at nominal levels, it is staying within its expected range. If a mission is described as nominal, nothing unusual has gone wrong. This meaning is different from "in name only," but it still connects to the idea of matching a stated value or planned condition.
So, depending on the context, "nominal" may mean official but not real in effect, very small and mostly symbolic, related to nouns, or operating within expected limits. The exact sense changes with the field, but the word usually points back to a name, label, title, or stated standard.
Examples
- 1
Small fee
The museum charges a nominal fee for children under twelve.
- 2
Official role
He was the nominal leader of the committee, but everyone knew Maya made the real decisions.
- 3
Business presence
The company kept a nominal office in London, though most employees worked from home.
- 4
Wages
Nominal wages rose by 4 percent, but prices rose even faster.
- Domainnominal wages
pay measured in money, before adjusting for inflation
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
GDP
The report compared nominal GDP with inflation-adjusted GDP.
- Domainnominal GDP
GDP measured in current prices
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- nominalnounadjective
Forms
- nominalspluralnounadjective