PAR-suh-moh-nee
His parsimony was so extreme that he reused paper towels to save a few cents.
Fun Fact
While often used negatively, parsimony has a place in science too—Occam’s Razor is a principle of parsimony, suggesting the simplest explanation is usually best. In everyday life, though, it’s usually a warning against being so frugal it becomes unreasonable or absurd.
NOM-uh-nuhl
(adjective) Existing in name only; or very small in amount.
Although she held a nominal title of leadership, real decisions were made by the board.
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.
Today's Word Recapitulate ree-kuh-PICH-uh-layt Definition (verb) To summarize or restate...
Read MoreToday's Word Malapropism mal-uh-PROP-iz-um Definition (noun) The mistaken use of...
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