adjective
nominal
NAH-muh-nul/ˈnɑːmɪnl/
Existing in name or appearance rather than in substance.
She is the nominal leader, but her deputy makes every decision.
Etymology
Originally “pertaining to a name,” nominal came to contrast names with actual things. Something nominal can therefore possess a title or label without the reality that the name normally implies.
In context
One had only a nominal amount of work to do compared with a PBI. In fact, if you had to work more than 4 hours a day, you were decidedly unlucky.
More examples
- The committee has only nominal authority over the budget.
- Their partnership is nominal; they never actually work together.
- The region retains nominal independence while a neighboring country controls its affairs.
Forms
nominal
nominally adverb — In name but not in reality.
Similar words
- titular
- Specifically describes holding a title without its usual authority.
- ostensible
- Describes what appears or is claimed, without confirming its reality.