nominal
gb/nˈɑmənəl/ us/nˈɑmənəl/
B2
English
~ 9500
névleg, névleges, jelképes, nominális, üzemszerű, névszói, névszói elem
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a nominal [role/position/title]
Although he was the nominal leader of the party, all major decisions were made by his advisors.
Bár ő volt a párt névleges vezetője, minden fontos döntést a tanácsadói hoztak meg.
She is the nominal head of the charity, but the manager runs it day to day.
Ő a jótékonysági szervezet névleges vezetője, de a napi működést a menedzser irányítja.
The president is only the nominal owner of the company; his family controls everything behind the scenes.
They agreed to give him a nominal position on the board to keep him satisfied.
In that country, the king is the nominal ruler, while the elected government has real power.
Learner examples
He is the nominal leader, but other people make the plans.
Ő a névleges vezető, de a terveket mások készítik.
She has a nominal role in the project and does not make decisions.
A projektben csak névleges szerepe van, és nem hoz döntéseket.
The king is the nominal ruler, but the prime minister has real power.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "nominal" with "normal" because the words look similar. "Nominal" means "in name only" in this sense, not "usual" or "typical".
Meaning
existing in name but not reality
Collocations
nominal leader
|nominal head
|nominal owner
|nominal position
|nominal role
|nominal authority
Synonyms
titular (Often used for positions where someone holds the title but not the real power, especially in politics or organizations.)
|
figurehead (Stresses that the person is mainly a symbol with no real control or influence.)
Antonyms
actual (Emphasizes that someone truly has the power or role, not just the title.)
|
real (Highlights that the authority or position has genuine substance and effect.)
Themes
politics
|business
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a title or role only in name, but not having real power or responsibility.
Having a title, role, or status only in name, without the real power, control, or substance that usually goes with it.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a nominal [amount/fee/charge]
Members pay only a nominal fee to join the club.
A tagoknak csak jelképes díjat kell fizetniük a klubba való belépésért.
The museum charges a nominal amount for entry to special exhibitions.
A múzeum csak jelképes összeget kér a különleges kiállítások megtekintéséért.
For a nominal sum, you can upgrade to premium support.
He sold the old car for a nominal price just to get rid of it.
Volunteers receive only a nominal payment to cover their travel costs.
Learner examples
We pay a nominal fee to use the gym.
Jelképes díjat fizetünk az edzőterem használatáért.
There is a nominal charge for the service.
A szolgáltatásért jelképes díjat kell fizetni.
Students pay only a nominal amount for the bus.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "nominal" means "normal" or "official" here. In money contexts, "a nominal fee" almost always means the fee is very small, often just a token amount.
Meaning
very small or symbolic in amount
Collocations
nominal fee
|for a nominal fee
|nominal amount
|nominal charge
|nominal cost
|nominal sum
Synonyms
token (Suggests the amount is mostly symbolic and not meant to cover the real cost.)
|
minimal (Focuses on the amount being as small as possible, but not always with the idea of symbolism.)
Antonyms
substantial (Emphasizes that the amount is large enough to be important or significant.)
|
considerable (Highlights that the sum is clearly more than just a small or symbolic amount.)
Themes
money
|business
|daily_life
|finance
Definition
Costing or being only a very small amount, often just to make it official.
Very small in cost or quantity, often so small that it is mainly symbolic rather than economically important.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
nominális
C1
Usage pattern:
nominal [GDP/interest rate/wage/value]
Nominal GDP rose by 5%, but real GDP barely changed.
A nominális GDP 5%-kal nőtt, de a reál-GDP alig változott.
The nominal interest rate is 6%, but the real rate is much lower after inflation.
A nominális kamatláb 6%, de az infláció után a reálkamat sokkal alacsonyabb.
Workers saw their nominal wages increase, yet their purchasing power fell.
Investors should look beyond the nominal return and consider inflation.
In the report, all figures are given in nominal terms unless stated otherwise.
Learner examples
Nominal GDP is not corrected for inflation.
A nominális GDP nincs inflációval korrigálva.
The nominal interest rate is 5% this year.
A nominális kamatláb idén 5%.
Her nominal wage went up, but prices also went up.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "nominal" and "real" in economics. "Nominal" is the simple money number at the time; "real" adjusts that number so it shows the true buying power after inflation.
Meaning
stated in current-price money terms
Collocations
nominal GDP
|nominal interest rate
|nominal wage
|nominal value
|nominal income
|nominal exchange rate
Synonyms
current-price (More explicit and technical; clearly states that the figure uses prices of the current period.)
|
face-value (Similar idea of the number written on something, but more general and not limited to inflation issues.)
Antonyms
real (In economics, "real" values are adjusted for inflation and show true purchasing power.)
|
inflation-adjusted (Makes it clear that changes in price levels over time have been taken into account.)
Themes
economics
|finance
|business
Definition
(In economics) Given as the money amount at the time, not changed for inflation or how much money is really worth.
(In economics and finance) Expressed in current money terms, without adjusting for inflation or changes in purchasing power.
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[system/process] is nominal
Telemetry shows that all systems are nominal.
A telemetria azt mutatja, hogy minden rendszer üzemszerűen működik.
Engine performance remains nominal throughout the first phase of flight.
A hajtómű teljesítménye a repülés első szakaszában végig a névleges tartományban marad.
Temperatures are nominal and within the safe operating range.
The control team reported nominal battery levels on the satellite.
Apart from a brief off-nominal reading, the mission proceeded nominal.
Learner examples
The engineer said that all systems were nominal.
A mérnök azt mondta, hogy minden rendszer üzemszerűen működik.
Sensor readings are nominal at this time.
Az érzékelők értékei jelenleg a névleges tartományban vannak.
The rocket launch was nominal with no major problems.
Common mistake:
Some learners think "nominal" here means "small" because of the money sense. In technical and space contexts, "nominal" instead means "normal" or "as expected".
Meaning
within normal or expected parameters
Collocations
all systems nominal
|values are nominal
|operating at nominal levels
|system remains nominal
|nominal operation
Synonyms
normal (General word meaning usual or as expected; lacks the precise technical feeling of "nominal".)
|
within-spec (Informal technical term meaning within the allowed range set by specifications.)
Antonyms
anomalous (Used in technical contexts when a reading or behavior is unusual and may indicate a problem.)
|
off-nominal (Specialist opposite meaning outside the expected range or conditions.)
Themes
technology
|science
Definition
(In technical or space language) Working as expected and within normal limits.
(Especially in engineering, space flight, and technical fields) Operating within the expected range of values or performance; normal and as planned.
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
nominal [group/clause/phrase/form]
In this sentence, the nominal group consists of a determiner and a noun.
Ebben a mondatban a névszói csoport egy determinánsból és egy főnévből áll.
The language has a complex system of nominal inflection.
A nyelvben a névszói ragozás rendszere igen összetett.
Nominal clauses can function as the subject of a sentence.
She wrote her thesis on the structure of nominal phrases in English.
The word "running" here has a nominal function, acting as the subject.
Learner examples
A nominal phrase can be the subject of a sentence.
A névszói szerkezet lehet egy mondat alanya.
Some words can have a nominal role in grammar.
Néhány szónak lehet névszói szerepe a nyelvtanban.
The teacher explained what a nominal clause is.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "nominal" in grammar means "small" or "in name only". In grammar, it only means "related to nouns" or "used like a noun".
Meaning
relating to or like a noun
Collocations
nominal phrase
|nominal group
|nominal clause
|nominal form
|nominal element
Synonyms
noun-related (Plain description used in explanations; less standard as a technical term.)
|
substantive (Formal grammatical term that can refer to nouns or words used like nouns.)
Antonyms
verbal (In grammar, refers to forms or structures related to verbs, not nouns.)
|
adjectival (Refers to forms or roles related to adjectives instead of nouns.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
|communication
Definition
(In grammar) Connected with nouns, or acting like a noun in a sentence.
(In grammar and linguistics) Relating to nouns or noun phrases, or functioning grammatically as a noun.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
6
nominális
C2
névszói elem
C1
Usage pattern:
a nominal [functions as subject/object]
In this construction, the entire clause functions as a nominal.
Ebben a szerkezetben az egész mellékmondat nominálisként működik.
The grammarian analyzed how complex nominals are formed in academic writing.
A nyelvész azt elemezte, hogyan jönnek létre az összetett nominálisok a tudományos írásban.
Pronouns are often treated as nominals in modern grammar.
The study focuses on clausal nominals in spoken English.
In the sentence "Seeing is believing", both gerunds are nominals.
Learner examples
In this sentence, the word group acts as a nominal.
Ebben a mondatban a szókapcsolat nominálisként működik.
A clause can sometimes be a nominal.
Egy mellékmondat néha nominális lehet.
The teacher showed examples of nominals used as subjects.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that not only single words but also phrases and clauses can be nominals if they function like nouns in a sentence.
Meaning
word or phrase acting as noun
Collocations
a nominal phrase
|a clausal nominal
|nominal as subject
|nominal as object
Synonyms
noun phrase (More specific to multi-word units; often overlaps but not identical in all theories.)
|
substantive (Formal term used in some grammars for nouns or other noun-like forms.)
Antonyms
verbal (Refers to verb-like words and structures, contrasted with noun-like (nominal) ones.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
|communication
Definition
(In grammar) A word or group of words that is used like a noun in a sentence.
(In grammar and linguistics) A word, phrase, or clause that functions as a noun within a sentence.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nominal
IPA
GB/nˈɑmənəl/
US/nˈɑmənəl/
Syllables & stress
nom - in - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nom)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: nominal
Noun
- Base: nominal
- Plural: nominals
Word family
Forms
nominals
noun
Core family
Related words
name
noun A1
Advanced or less common
nominalize
verb
nominalization
noun
Expressions
all systems nominal
1/ˈɔl sˈɪstəmz nˈɑmənəl/
fixed phrase
technical
all systems functioning as expected
Used in space or technical talk to say that every system is working normally and within safe limits.
Examples
- Mission control reports all systems nominal.
- Five minutes after launch, all systems were still nominal.
- Engineers confirmed that all systems remained nominal throughout the test.
for a nominal fee
1/fɚ ə nˈɑmənəl fˈi/
fixed phrase
in return for a very small fee
Used to say that something is available if you pay a very small amount of money.
Examples
- We can deliver the furniture to your home for a nominal fee.
- The service will transfer your data for a nominal fee.
- Students can print documents on campus for a nominal fee.
nominal amount
1/nˈɑmənəl əmˈaʊnt/
fixed phrase
very small or token amount
A very small amount, often only to make something official or legal.
Examples
- The land was sold for a nominal amount to the local council.
- Employees contribute only a nominal amount to the health plan.
- He invested a nominal amount just to support the project.
nominal fee
1/nˈɑmənəl fˈi/
fixed phrase
very small charge or fee
A very small amount of money that you pay for a service, usually just to make it official.
Examples
- Members pay a nominal fee to use the gym.
- There is only a nominal fee for processing your application.
- For a nominal fee, you can access the full online archive.
nominal GDP
1/nˈɑmənəl d͡ʒˈi dˈi pˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
GDP at current prices
The total value of all goods and services a country makes, measured using prices of that same year, without changing for inflation.
Examples
- Nominal GDP grew by 7%, but part of that was due to inflation.
- Economists compared nominal GDP and real GDP over ten years.
- The chart shows nominal GDP in local currency terms.
nominal head
1/nˈɑmənəl hˈɛd/
fixed phrase
head only in name, not authority
Someone who is officially the head of an organization or group but does not truly control it.
Examples
- The king is the nominal head of state, while the prime minister governs.
- She remained the nominal head of the company after stepping back from daily operations.
- The foundation lists him as the nominal head, but his daughter runs everything.
nominal interest rate
1/nˈɑmənəl ˈɪntɚˌɛst ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
stated interest rate before adjustments
The interest rate that a bank or lender says, not changed for inflation or sometimes not counting how often interest is added.
Examples
- The nominal interest rate on the loan is 8%.
- When inflation is high, the real rate can be much lower than the nominal interest rate.
- The central bank decided to cut the nominal interest rate by 0.5 percentage points.
nominal leader
1/nˈɑmənəl lˈidɚ/
fixed phrase
leader only in title, not power
Someone who has the title of leader, but does not really have control or make the important decisions.
Examples
- She is the nominal leader, but the party boss holds the real power.
- The committee has a nominal leader, but decisions are made by consensus.
- Although he is the nominal leader of the group, he rarely attends meetings.
nominal owner
1/nˈɑmənəl ˈoʊnɚ/
fixed phrase
listed owner without real control
A person whose name is on the official papers as the owner, but who does not really control or use the thing.
Examples
- She is the nominal owner of the apartment, but her parents paid for it.
- The company used a nominal owner to hide the real investor.
- He acted as the nominal owner of the yacht for tax reasons.
nominal role
1/nˈɑmənəl ɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
position with title but no duties
A job or position that someone has in name, but that has almost no real work or power.
Examples
- He has a nominal role on the advisory board.
- Her title is impressive, but she plays only a nominal role in the company.
- The committee gave him a nominal role to recognize his past service.
nominal value
1/nˈɑmənəl vˈælju/
fixed phrase
technical
stated or face value
The money value written on a share, bond, or other asset, not its real market value.
Examples
- The bond has a nominal value of $1,000.
- Shares were issued with a nominal value of €1 each.
- Inflation eroded the real value, but the nominal value stayed the same.