Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Existing in name only; not real or actual: Refers to something that holds a title or position officially but lacks the corresponding power, responsibility, or substance.
   • Insignificantly small; trifling: Describes an amount, sum, or degree that is so minor it is considered negligible or symbolic.
   • Of, relating to, or being a noun or a word or word group that functions as a noun: Pertaining to the grammatical category of nouns or noun-like constructions.
   • Of, relating to, or being an amount that is not adjusted for inflation: Used in economics to describe values expressed in current monetary terms without accounting for changes in purchasing power.
   • Relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name: Concerning the act of naming or being named.

2. Noun:

   • A word or group of words functioning as a noun: A nominal phrase.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The king remained the nominal head of state, but the prime minister held the real power.
  • We charge only a nominal fee for the service to cover basic costs.
  • In the sentence, 'the fast runner', the phrase is a nominal group.
  • The nominal GDP increased, but when adjusted for inflation, real growth was flat.
  • The nominal list of attendees was posted on the door.

• Noun:

  • In grammar, 'the big red house' is an example of a nominal.

Advanced Usage

• "Nominal value": The stated face value of a security, currency, or financial instrument, as opposed to its market value.

  • The bond has a nominal value of $1,000.

• "Nominal scale": In statistics, a level of measurement used for labeling variables without any quantitative value or order.

  • Gender and nationality are measured on a nominal scale.

• "Nominal clause": A clause that functions as a noun within a sentence.

  • 'What she said' in 'What she said surprised me' is a nominal clause.

Variants and Related Words

• Nominalism (n): A philosophical doctrine that universals or general ideas are mere names without any corresponding reality.
• Nominalize (v): To convert a word or phrase into a noun.
  • The verb 'to agree' can be nominalized to form the noun 'agreement'.
• Nominally (adv): In name only; to a very small degree.
  • He is nominally in charge, but his assistant makes all the decisions.

Synonyms

• Adjective (existing in name only): Titular, formal, theoretical, supposed.
• Adjective (insignificant): Token, minimal, trifling, negligible, symbolic.
• Adjective (grammatical): Noun-like, substantival.

Antonyms

• Adjective (existing in name only): Actual, real, substantive, de facto.
• Adjective (insignificant): Substantial, considerable, significant, large.

Related Phrases

• In nominal terms: Expressed in current prices, not adjusted for inflation.
  • Wages rose 5% in nominal terms, but inflation was 3%.
• Nominal leader: A leader in title but not in practice.
  • The chairman is merely a nominal leader; the CEO runs the company.

Adjective

1. existing in name only
   • the nominal (or titular) head of his party
2. named; bearing the name of a specific person
   • nominative shares of stock
3. of, relating to, or characteristic of an amount that is not adjusted for inflation
   • the nominal GDP
   • nominal interest rates
4. pertaining to a noun or to a word group that functions as a noun
   • nominal phrase
   • noun phrase
5. insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)
   • the fee was nominal
   • a token gesture of resistance
   • a toknenish gesture
6. relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name
   • the Russian system of nominal brevity
   • a nominal lists of priests
   • taxable males as revealed by the nominal rolls

Noun

1. a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a verb