nominally
gb/nˈɑmənəli/ us/nˈɑmənəli/
C1
English
~ 6200
névleg, névleges, nominálisan
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is nominally [position/status]
She is nominally in charge of the department, but her deputy makes all the real decisions.
Ő névleg vezeti az osztályt, de a valódi döntéseket a helyettese hozza meg.
The country is nominally a democracy, yet elections are tightly controlled.
Az ország névleg demokrácia, a választásokat mégis szigorúan ellenőrzik.
He remains nominally CEO, though he has stepped back from daily operations.
The committee is nominally independent, but it follows the minister’s wishes.
The king is nominally the head of state, while the prime minister runs the government.
Learner examples
He is nominally the leader, but he does not decide anything.
Ő névleg a vezető, de semmiről sem dönt.
The party is nominally open to all, but only a few people can really join.
A párt névleg mindenki előtt nyitva áll, de valójában csak kevesen csatlakozhatnak.
Their team is nominally equal, but one person has all the power.
The president is nominally the boss, but the generals have control.
The school is nominally free, but families must pay many extra fees.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "nominally" with "normally" because they look similar. "Normally" means "usually" or "in most cases" (e.g., "We normally eat at six"). "Nominally" means "in name only" and is often used to show a gap between the official title and the real situation (e.g., "He is nominally the manager"). Learners also sometimes use "nominally" when they just mean "officially" without any hint of contrast; in many of those cases, "officially" or "formally" is more natural in everyday language.
Meaning
in name only, not really
Collocations
nominally in charge
|nominally responsible for
|nominally independent
|nominally democratic
|nominally the head of
Synonyms
ostensibly (Suggests something appears to be true from the outside, but may not be true in reality; a bit more about outward appearance than just title.)
|
formally (Emphasizes the official or legal status; does not always suggest the same strong gap between title and reality that 'nominally' does.)
Antonyms
actually (Focuses on what is true in reality, not just in name or on paper.)
|
effectively (Emphasizes what really happens in practice, which contrasts with holding a role only in name.)
Themes
politics
|work
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In name only; when someone or something has a title or role, but not real power or effect.
In name or title only, without real power, effect, or existence in practice.
C1
TECHNICAL
2
nominálisan
C1
Usage pattern:
[price/value/rate] is nominally [amount]
The bond is nominally valued at $1,000, but it trades for much less on the market.
A kötvényt nominálisan 1000 dollárra értékelik, de a piacon jóval kevesebbért forog.
Workers’ wages rose nominally by 3%, but high inflation meant they could buy less.
A dolgozók bére nominálisan 3%-kal nőtt, de a magas infláció miatt kevesebbet tudtak vásárolni.
The ticket is nominally priced at $50, not including taxes and fees.
The fund promises to grow your savings nominally at 5% per year.
The loan carries a nominally low interest rate, but extra charges make it expensive.
Learner examples
The phone is nominally priced at $800, but you pay more with fees.
A telefon nominálisan 800 dollárba kerül, de a díjakkal együtt többet kell fizetni érte.
The city’s budget grew nominally, but prices also went up.
A város költségvetése nominálisan nőtt, de az árak is emelkedtek.
Her salary increased nominally, but she does not feel richer.
The bond is nominally worth €500 on its face.
The bank offers money that grows nominally at 4% each year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this financial meaning with the more general "in name only" sense. In economics or business texts, "nominally" often contrasts with "in real terms" or "inflation-adjusted". Another mistake is to use "nominally" to mean "approximately" for sizes or measurements; that sense belongs more clearly to the adjective "nominal" in technical engineering use (e.g., "a nominal 2-inch pipe"), not to the adverb "nominally" in general English.
Meaning
at face value, unadjusted
Collocations
nominally priced at
|nominally valued at
|nominally worth
|nominally payable
|grows nominally at
Synonyms
unadjusted (General term meaning not corrected for changes like inflation; slightly broader and less specifically financial than "nominally".)
|
at face value (Emphasizes the number written on something; not only used for money, but in finance it overlaps with the idea of "nominal" value.)
Antonyms
in real terms (Used mainly in economics to mean adjusted for inflation or other changes, the opposite of a purely nominal amount.)
|
inflation-adjusted (Specifically indicates that a value has been corrected for inflation, opposing a nominal (unadjusted) figure.)
Themes
economics
|business
|finance
Definition
At the number that is written or said (price, value, rate), not corrected for inflation, real value, or other changes.
At the stated or face-value amount, especially for prices, values, or interest rates, without adjusting for inflation, extra costs, or real purchasing power.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nominally
IPA
GB/nˈɑmənəli/
US/nˈɑmənəli/
Syllables & stress
nom - in - ally (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nom)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nominally
- Plural: nominallies
Word family
Forms
nominallies
noun
Core family
nominal
adjective B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
nominative
adjective
nominalize
verb
nominalization
noun
Expressions
nominally in charge
1/nˈɑmənəli ˈɪn t͡ʃˈɑɹd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
having title but not real control
To have the official role of leader, but not have real power or control in practice.
Examples
- Although she is nominally in charge, major decisions are made by the founder.
- The committee is nominally in charge of hiring, but managers choose who gets the job.
nominally priced at
1/nˈɑmənəli pɹˈaɪst ˈæt/
fixed phrase
technical
having an official listed price
To have an official or listed price of a certain amount, not including extra fees or changes in real value.
Examples
- The package is nominally priced at $99, but taxes and shipping are added later.
- The new laptop is nominally priced at $1,200, making it one of the most expensive models.
nominally valued at
1/nˈɑmənəli vˈæljud ˈæt/
fixed phrase
technical
having official or face value
To have an official or face value of a certain amount, not the value after market changes or inflation.
Examples
- The company is nominally valued at $2 billion, though analysts doubt it is really worth that much.
- The artwork is nominally valued at €10,000 for insurance purposes.