• Today's Word

Nominal

🔊 Listen to the word Nominal

NOM-uh-nuhl

Definition

(adjective) Existing in name only; or very small in amount.

Example

Although she held a nominal title of leadership, real decisions were made by the board.

Word Origin

From Latin nomen, meaning “name.” It entered English in the late 15th century referring to something “by name rather than reality.”

Fun Fact

The term nominal shows up in multiple disciplines—from economics (as in “nominal value,” meaning the stated rather than actual worth) to aerospace, where engineers use it to mean “operating normally.” The contrast between nominal and real reminds us how perception can differ from truth—what’s written, titled, or labeled doesn’t always reflect what’s genuinely happening behind the scenes.