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-al1]
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