Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: nominalis, from nomen 'name'


Related topics: Grammar

nominal sum/charge/fee etc

a very small sum of money, especially when compared with what something would usually cost or what it is worth:
A nominal charge is made for use of the tennis courts.
2 officially described as being something, when this is not really true:
the nominal head of the rebellion
Their conversion to Christianity was only nominal.

nominal value/rate/income etc

technical a nominal value etc does not show what something is really worth or really costs, because it does not take into account changes in the price of other goods and services [≠ real]:
If prices rise and the nominal wage remains constant, the real wage falls.
4 technicalSLG relating to nouns or used as a noun:
the nominal use of the present participle

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