What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nominal
Example
The company charges a nominal fee for their services. [nominal: adjective]
Example
The salary increase was nominal and did not make much of a difference. [nominal: adjective]
minimal
Example
The project required minimal effort to complete. [minimal: adjective]
Example
The damage to the car was minimal and easily fixable. [minimal: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Minimal is more commonly used than nominal in everyday language. Minimal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while nominal is less common and is typically used in specific contexts related to money or prices.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nominal and minimal?
Both nominal and minimal are relatively formal words, but nominal may be considered more technical due to its specific usage in financial contexts.