Nominal
/ˈnɒmɪnəl/noun
Relating to a name or names, or existing in name only rather than in reality.
Did you know?Nominal comes from Latin nomen, “name,” the same root behind names, nouns, and the idea that naming something gives it social reality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁nómn̥
“name”
Latin
Latin
nōmen
“name, reputation, designation”
Late Latin
Latin
nōminālis
“of or belonging to a name”
Old French
Old French
nominal
“relating to a name; by name only”
Middle English
English
nominal
“pertaining to a name or designation; existing in name only”
Modern English
English
nominal
“of, relating to, or consisting of a name; so-called; minimal or token”