nominal
Merely so-called
Nominal means in name only, often implying a gap between label and reality: a nominal democracy with no real elections, He's the nominal head of the company.
A nominal fee or sum is so small it barely counts—token rather than substantial: They charged a nominal fee for admission.
In technical contexts, nominal refers to the designated or expected value: The engine is running at nominal capacity.
In aerospace jargon, nominal simply means everything is functioning as planned: All systems nominal.
Representative placeholder
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- negligibleToo small to consider
- slightMinor or thin
- minorScale with lowered third
trivial · insignificant · small · meager · scant · bare · perfunctory · cursory
In title only
- ceremonialRelating to formal rites
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- honoraryGiven as distinction
- formalFollowing strict protocol
puppet · in name only · de jure · official · representative · token · paper · notional
Formal name or title
- appellationName or title given
- titleFormal honorific or name
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
- terminologySubject-specific vocabulary
classifier · identifier · tag · category · heading · descriptor · rubric · taxonomy
Printed denomination shown
- statedExpressed in words
- parExpected stroke count
- listedRecorded in a registry
- quotedRepeated from source
asking · sticker · published · official · base · standard · fixed · set
Having real significance
- subjectMatter under discussion
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- declensionNoun form variation
- caseContainer or instance
gerund · participle · infinitive · morphology · syntax · phrase · agreement · modifier
token
Representative placeholder
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- negligibleToo small to consider
- slightMinor or thin
minor · trivial · insignificant · small · meager · scant · bare · perfunctory · cursory · notional
titular
In title only
- ceremonialRelating to formal rites
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- honoraryGiven as distinction
formal · puppet · in name only · de jure · official · representative · token · paper · notional · ostensible
designation
Formal name or title
- appellationName or title given
- titleFormal honorific or name
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
terminology · classifier · identifier · tag · category · heading · descriptor · rubric · taxonomy
face value
Printed denomination shown
quoted · asking · sticker · published · official · base · standard · fixed · set
substantive
Having real significance
- subjectMatter under discussion
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- declensionNoun form variation
case · gerund · participle · infinitive · morphology · syntax · phrase · agreement · modifier · complement
- Sanskrit grammarPanini, accusative, sutra, dative, genitive
- classificationsclassified, hierarchical, class, unclassified, categorical
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
- -al adjectivescultural, emotional, environmental, federal, financial
- potenciafuerza, watts, kilowatts, megawatts, maxima
- business adjectivescommercial, corporate, economic, financial, fiscal
nominalsubstantial
Of notable size or importance
significant · considerable · major · consequential · material
nominalinformal
Relaxed, not official
unspecified · undesignated · unnamed · unofficial · unlabeled
- nominal priceInsignificantly small cost
- party nominationSelection as electoral candidate
- nominal feeVery small charge
- presidential nominationOfficial party endorsement for presidency
- nomination speechFormal candidate endorsement declaration
- Grammy nominationConsidered for music prize
nominate, nomination, ignominy, nominated, denomination, nominating, nominates, nominally, nominations