You use nominal to indicate that someone or something is supposed to have a particular identity or status, but in reality does not have it.
As he was still not allowed to run a company, his partner became its nominal head.
I was brought up a nominal Christian.
Synonyms: titular, formal, purported, in name only More Synonyms of nominal
nominallyadverb [oft ADV before v]
The Sultan was still nominally the Chief of Staff.
...South Africa's nominally independent homeland of Transkei.
Nominally she is the king's prisoner.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A nominal price or sum of money is very small in comparison with the real cost or value of the thing that is being bought or sold.
I am prepared to sell my shares at a nominal price.
All the ferries carry bicycles free or for a nominal charge.
Synonyms: token, small, symbolic, minimal More Synonyms of nominal
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
In economics, the nominal value, rate, or level of something is the one expressed in terms of current prices or figures, without taking into account general changes in prices that take place over time.
Inflation would be lower and so nominal rates would be rather more attractive inreal terms.
In 1990 personal incomes grew a nominal 6.8 per cent.
nominal in British English
(ˈnɒmɪnəl)
adjective
1.
in name only; theoretical
the nominal leader
2.
minimal in comparison with real worth or what is expected; token
a nominal fee
3.
of, relating to, constituting, bearing, or giving a name
4. grammar
of or relating to a noun or noun phrase
noun
5. grammar
a nominal element; a noun, noun phrase, or syntactically similar structure
6. bell-ringing
the harmonic an octave above the strike tone of a bell
Derived forms
nominally (ˈnominally)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin nōminālis of a name, from nōmen name
nominal in American English
(ˈnɑmənəl)
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
noun
5. Linguistics
a noun or other word or word group, including adjectives, that occurs in grammatical functions typical of nouns; substantive
Word origin
ME nominalle < L nominalis, of a name < nomen, name
Examples of 'nominal' in a sentence
nominal
More daring still would be to throw out the inflation target altogether and replace it with a nominal growth target.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It ought not to be news when a nominal price index reaches a new peak; it's what ought to happen.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Explain the difference between real income and nominal income.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
How about they charge cyclists a nominal road tax fee which could go towards pothole repairs?
The Sun (2013)
Other prices and nominal income are held constant.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Many churches make audio or video recordings of their services available for a nominal charge.
Christianity Today (2000)
Hence nominal earnings growth and real earnings growth have been almost the same.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The hundreds of objects are worth far more than the nominal sum paid.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is perfectly possible to have real price deflation with nominal prices rising.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some countries charge a nominal fee for visas that can be bought for cash when you enter the country.
The Sun (2011)
We could target nominal economic growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
First, inflation increases the nominal value of work in process and finished inventory.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
You will be charged a nominal 155 fee for administration costs in delivering this letter.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Some British cyclists say they would be willing to pay a nominal sum to maintain cycle facilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It can flood the with cash, driving up inflation the nominal value of the underlying bank loans.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A similar distinction can be made between nominal returns and real returns.
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
As such he was the nominal head of the Vietnamese military and responsible for choosing the Cabinet.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Many are at or close to all-time highs, in nominal and real terms.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Return parking to the railway and make it free, or a nominal amount to cover costs and free at weekends as it usually used to be.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The way a devaluation works is to cut real wages (by raising import prices) while keeping nominal wages constant.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
When it became apparent that they were missing, I asked for a nominal amount of money in compensation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
nominal
British English: nominal ADJECTIVE
You use nominal to indicate that someone or something is supposed to have a particular identity or status, but in reality does not have it.
As he was still not allowed to run a company, his wife became its nominal head.
American English: nominal
Brazilian Portuguese: nominal
Chinese: 象征性的价格、金额
European Spanish: nominal
French: nominal
German: nominell
Italian: nominale
Japanese: 名ばかりの
Korean: 명목상의
European Portuguese: nominal
Latin American Spanish: nominal
Chinese translation of 'nominal'
nominal
(ˈnɔmɪnl)
adj
[leader, head, Christian]名义(義)上的 (míngyìshang de)
[fee, sum, amount]微不足道的 (wēi bù zú dào de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
in name only
As he was still not allowed to run a company, his wife became its nominal head.
Synonyms
titular
He is titular head, and merely signs laws occasionally.
formal
purported
in name only
supposed
so-called
their so-called economic miracle
pretended
Todd shrugged with pretended indifference.
theoretical
There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.
professed
their professed concern for justice
ostensible
the ostensible reason for her resignation
2 (adjective)
Definition
very small in comparison with real worth
The ferries carry bicycles for a nominal charge.
Synonyms
token
weak token gestures with no real consequences
small
No detail was too small to escape her attention.
symbolic
The move today was largely symbolic.
minimal
effective defence with minimal expenditure
trivial
I don't like to visit the doctor just for something trivial.
trifling
The guests had each paid £250, no trifling sum.
insignificant
In 1949 it was still a small, insignificant city.
inconsiderable
He was a man of great charm and not inconsiderable wit.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inconsiderable
Definition
not worth considering
He was a man of great charm and not inconsiderable wit.
Synonyms
insignificant,
small,
slight,
light,
minor,
petty,
trivial,
trifling,
negligible,
unimportant,
small-time (informal),
inconsequential,
exiguous
in the sense of insignificant
Definition
having little or no importance
In 1949 it was still a small, insignificant city.
Synonyms
unimportant,
minor,
irrelevant,
petty,
trivial,
meaningless,
trifling,
meagre,
negligible,
flimsy,
paltry,
immaterial,
inconsequential,
nondescript,
measly (informal),
scanty,
inconsiderable,
of no consequence,
nonessential,
small potatoes,
nickel-and-dime (US, slang),
of no account,
nugatory,
unsubstantial,
not worth mentioning,
of no moment,
wanky (taboo, slang)
in the sense of minimal
Definition
of the least possible quantity or degree
effective defence with minimal expenditure
Synonyms
minimum,
smallest,
least,
slightest,
token,
nominal,
negligible,
least possible,
littlest
Synonyms of 'nominal'
nominal
Explore 'nominal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ostensible
Definition
apparent or seeming
the ostensible reason for her resignation
Synonyms
apparent,
seeming,
supposed,
alleged,
so-called,
pretended,
exhibited,
manifest,
outward,
superficial,
professed,
purported,
avowed,
specious
in the sense of pretended
Todd shrugged with pretended indifference.
Synonyms
feigned,
alleged,
so-called,
phoney or phony (informal),
false,
pretend (informal),
fake,
imaginary,
bogus,
professed,
sham,
purported,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
spurious,
fictitious,
avowed,
ostensible
in the sense of professed
their professed concern for justice
Synonyms
supposed,
would-be,
alleged,
so-called,
apparent,
pretended,
purported,
self-styled,
ostensible,
soi-disant
in the sense of small
Definition
unimportant or trivial
No detail was too small to escape her attention.
Synonyms
unimportant,
minor,
trivial,
insignificant,
little,
lesser,
petty,
trifling,
negligible,
paltry,
piddling (informal)
in the sense of so-called
Definition
called (in the speaker's opinion, wrongly) by that name
their so-called economic miracle
Synonyms
alleged,
supposed,
professed,
pretended,
self-styled,
ostensible,
soi-disant
in the sense of symbolic
Definition
being a symbol of something
The move today was largely symbolic.
Synonyms
representative,
token,
emblematic,
allegorical
in the sense of theoretical
Definition
existing in theory but perhaps not in reality
There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.
Synonyms
hypothetical,
academic,
notional,
unproven,
conjectural,
nominal,
postulatory
in the sense of trifling
Definition
insignificant, petty, or frivolous
The guests had each paid £250, no trifling sum.
Synonyms
insignificant,
small,
tiny,
empty,
slight,
silly,
shallow,
petty,
idle,
trivial,
worthless,
negligible,
unimportant,
frivolous,
paltry,
minuscule,
puny,
measly,
piddling (informal),
inconsiderable,
valueless,
nickel-and-dime (US, slang),
footling (informal)
in the sense of trivial
Definition
of little importance
I don't like to visit the doctor just for something trivial.