minimum
noun
min·i·mum ˈmi-nə-məm 
plural minima ˈmi-nə-mə or minimums
or minimums 1
: the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible
Keep expenses to a bare minimum.
He was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison.
2
: the least of a set of numbers
specifically : the smallest value assumed by a continuous (see continuous sense 2) function defined on a closed (see closed sense 3b) interval
3
a
: the lowest degree or amount of variation (as of temperature) reached or recorded
b
: the lowest speed allowed on a highway
minimum adjective
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The stunner kept her makeup to a minimum, showcasing her stunning natural beauty. 
Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 10 Sep. 2022 But the Weselohs’ flight made it, and cancellations and delays on the other international and domestic flights the Chicago couple took this summer were kept to a minimum. Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Less is more, so keep decorative objects to a minimum to avoid an overcluttered worktop. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2022 Claus Spreckels, general manager, said yesterday that every possible step would be taken to reduce the inconvenience to Adams avenue patrons to the minimum. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 The onscreen physical violence is kept to a minimum, but the filmmakers don’t mince words about what happened in that hotel room. Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 For example, Yiu says that soy sauce can be high in sodium, something that people with high blood pressure should keep to a minimum. Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 Arrests of street protestors and strict media controls have kept public dissent to a minimum. Peter Rutland, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 These holes must be kept to a minimum, and they must later be sealed to prevent them from becoming pipes for future groundwater flow. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 10 Sep. 2022 But the Weselohs’ flight made it, and cancellations and delays on the other international and domestic flights the Chicago couple took this summer were kept to a minimum. Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Less is more, so keep decorative objects to a minimum to avoid an overcluttered worktop. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2022 Claus Spreckels, general manager, said yesterday that every possible step would be taken to reduce the inconvenience to Adams avenue patrons to the minimum. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 The onscreen physical violence is kept to a minimum, but the filmmakers don’t mince words about what happened in that hotel room. Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 For example, Yiu says that soy sauce can be high in sodium, something that people with high blood pressure should keep to a minimum. Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 Arrests of street protestors and strict media controls have kept public dissent to a minimum. Peter Rutland, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 These holes must be kept to a minimum, and they must later be sealed to prevent them from becoming pipes for future groundwater flow. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, neuter of minimus smallest; akin to Latin minor smaller — more at minor
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing minimum
Kids Definition
minimum 1 of 2
noun
min·i·mum ˈmi-nə-məm
plural minimums or minima
-mə
: the lowest value : the least amount I need a minimum of two hours.
minimum
2 of 2adjective
: being the least or lowest possible
The minimum height for this ride is 42 inches.
Medical Definition
minimum 1 of 2
noun
min·i·mum ˈmin-ə-məm
plural minima -ə-mə or minimums
or minimums 1
: the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible
2
: the lowest degree or amount of variation (as of temperature) reached or recorded
minimum
2 of 2adjective
: of, relating to, or constituting a minimum
meet the minimum psychiatric needs of the country E. A. Strecker
E. A. Streckerestablishing minimum standards for medical education CIBA Symposia
CIBA Symposiaminima
noun
variants or minimums
as in minims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- minims
- little
- shadows
- particles
- streaks
- granules
- rays
- dots
- syllables
- molecules
- vestiges
- iotas
- specks
- soupçons
- shades
- atoms
- scruples
- mites
- peanuts
- nips
- sparks
- flecks
- strains
- semblances
- spots
- whits
- grains
- jots
- dashes
- nubbins
- glimmers
- sprinklings
- modicums
- patches
- parts
- shreds
- crumbs
- motes
- splashes
- morsels
- scintillas
- suspicions
- drams
- tittles
- smidgins
- flyspecks
- smidgeons
- ounces
- hints
- driblets
- skoshes
- licks
- smidgens
- sections
- spatters
- hoots
- smidges
- scraps
- touches
- drops
- smacks
- smells
- snaps
- aces
- portions
- bits
- pinches
- doses
- scatterings
- bites
- dabs
- nibbles
- traces
- flakes
- fragments
- tastes
- shards
- slivers
- smatters
- handsful
- chips
- handfuls
- splinters
- smatterings
- shivers
- tatters
- shots
- smithereens
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quantities
- abundances
- masses
- mountains
- loads
- piles
- rafts
- bundles
- lots
- bushels
- buckets
- heaps
- volumes
- deals
- stacks
- wealths
- barrels
- messes
- pecks
- gobs
- excesses
- oodles
- scads
- wads
- much
- surpluses
- reams
- profusions
- lashings
- boatloads
- lashins
- passels
- fistfuls
- plenties
- potfuls
- bonanzas
- embarrassments
- slabs
- overflows
- overages
- superfluities
- overmuch
- chunks
- lumps
- overabundances
- oversupplies
- overkills
- hunks
- superabundances
- surfeits
