minimal
gb/mˈɪnəməl/ us/mˈɪnəməl/
B2
English
~ 5500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
very small in amount or degree
Very small in amount or level; almost nothing.
Usage pattern:
a minimal [amount] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "minimal" with the noun "minimum" and say *"a minimal of" instead of "a minimum of". Use "minimal" before a noun ("minimal damage"), and use "minimum" as a noun ("a minimum of five people").
Synonyms
very small (More general description; lacks the slightly technical or precise tone of "minimal".)
|
negligible (Suggests the amount is so small it can be ignored; slightly more formal than "minimal".)
|
slight (Emphasizes that something is small but does not stress the idea of being close to zero as strongly as "minimal".)
Antonyms
substantial (Indicates a much larger and more important amount, the opposite of a very small amount.)
|
considerable (Means large or noticeable in amount, contrasting with something that is minimal.)
Collocations
minimal effort
|minimal damage
|minimal impact
|minimal noise
|minimal cost
Themes
quantities
|descriptions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The side effects of the medicine were minimal.
- Thanks to the quick repairs, traffic disruption was minimal.
- We did the project with minimal damage to the existing system.
- Light pollution here is minimal, so you can see the stars clearly.
- The changes to the schedule are minimal and easy to follow.
Learner examples
- The cost was minimal, so we bought it.
- There was minimal noise from the street.
- The storm caused minimal damage to the house.
- He passed the test with only minimal effort.
- The delay was minimal, just a few minutes.
adjective
C1
property
2
smallest level allowed or required
Being the smallest level that is allowed or needed.
Usage pattern:
the minimal [requirements/standards] for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"the minimum requirements are minimal" when they just mean "the minimal requirements" or "the minimum requirements". Use either "minimal requirements" (adjective) or "minimum requirements" (adjective), but avoid repeating both together unless you really want to stress the idea.
Synonyms
bare minimum (Informal phrase that strongly emphasizes only just enough; slightly more casual than "minimal".)
|
lowest (More general comparative term; does not always carry the formal or rule-based sense that "minimal" can have.)
Antonyms
maximum (The greatest amount or level allowed, in contrast with the smallest allowed level.)
|
generous (Suggests more than enough or more than required, the opposite of just meeting minimal requirements.)
Collocations
minimal requirements
|minimal standards
|minimal qualifications
|minimal fee
|minimal level
Themes
rules
|education
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Applicants must meet the minimal requirements listed on the website.
- The company pays only the minimal fee required by law.
- Students need a minimal level of English to join the course.
- The contract offers only minimal protection to consumers.
- We provide the minimal amount of data necessary to complete the process.
Learner examples
- You must have a minimal level of experience for this job.
- The school sets minimal rules for dress.
- He did the minimal work needed to pass.
- They charge the minimal price allowed by the city.
- This plan gives you the minimal amount of support.
adjective
C1
property
3
using very few simple elements
Simple and clean in style, with very few things or details.
Usage pattern:
a minimal [design/style/decor]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "minimal" (simple style) with "minimalistic" or "minimalist". "Minimal" is fine in most everyday uses ("minimal design"), while "minimalist" often refers to a person or a clear style, and "minimalistic" is less common and can sound more technical or critical.
Synonyms
minimalist (More strongly linked to the artistic and lifestyle movement of minimalism; often used when talking about a recognized style.)
|
simple (Very general and common; does not necessarily imply a deliberate style choice as clearly as "minimal".)
|
streamlined (Emphasizes being smooth and efficient, sometimes more about function than visual simplicity.)
Antonyms
ornate (Describes something with many decorations and details, the opposite of a minimal style.)
|
cluttered (Full of many objects or details, the opposite of a clean, minimal look.)
Collocations
minimal design
|minimal aesthetic
|minimal decor
|minimal style
|minimal wardrobe
Themes
art
|design
|lifestyle
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Examples
- The apartment has a minimal design with white walls and only a few pieces of furniture.
- I prefer a minimal user interface without too many buttons.
- Her presentation slides were minimal, with lots of white space and only key words.
- The restaurant’s interior is minimal but very stylish.
- He lives a minimal lifestyle and owns very few things.
Learner examples
- The room has a minimal style with only a bed and a table.
- I like websites that have a minimal look.
- She wears minimal makeup every day.
- The logo is very minimal but easy to remember.
- They chose a minimal design for the office.
adjective
technical
C2
property
4
smallest value meeting a condition
In math, science, or computing, being the smallest thing that meets a rule or condition.
Usage pattern:
a minimal [structure/value] in [field]
Synonyms
least (General term for the smallest value; "minimal" is often used as a label for special objects in technical fields.)
|
smallest (Plain description of size or value; "minimal" implies a formal condition is satisfied.)
Antonyms
maximal (Technical opposite; describes the largest object or value that satisfies the condition.)
Collocations
minimal surface
|minimal polynomial
|minimal spanning tree
|minimal set
Themes
mathematics
|science
|technology
|education
Examples
- We computed a minimal spanning tree for the network.
- The algorithm searches for a minimal set of features that still predicts the outcome.
- In this model, any minimal solution is also unique.
- The shape of a soap film can be described as a minimal surface.
- They proved that the group has a unique minimal normal subgroup.
Learner examples
- The program finds a minimal path between two points.
- In this class we study minimal surfaces in geometry.
- The scientist looks for a minimal set of rules to explain the data.
- The graph has more than one minimal solution.
- We need a minimal value that still makes the formula true.
Grammar
Dictionary form
minimal
IPA
GB/mˈɪnəməl/
US/mˈɪnəməl/
Syllables & stress
min - im - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (min)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: minimal
Word family
Expressions
at minimal cost
1/ˈæt mˈɪnəməl kˈɔst/
fixed phrase
for very little money
Doing or getting something while paying only a very small amount of money.
Examples
- The service helps small businesses grow at minimal cost.
- We upgraded the system at minimal cost by using open-source tools.
- They offer training at minimal cost to new employees.
in minimal detail
1/ˈɪn mˈɪnəməl dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
with very few details
Explaining or describing something using only a small number of details.
Examples
- The report describes the incident only in minimal detail.
- For now, we can discuss the plan in minimal detail.
- The guide explains the process in minimal detail, just enough to get started.
to a minimal degree
1/tə ə mˈɪnəməl dɪɡɹˈi/
fixed phrase
formal
only to a very small extent
Happening or being true, but only in a very small or slight way.
Examples
- The medication affected his blood pressure only to a minimal degree.
- Climate conditions varied from year to year only to a minimal degree.
- The policy changes the current system only to a minimal degree.
with minimal effort
1/wˈɪθ mˈɪnəməl ˈɛfɚt/
fixed phrase
using very little effort
Doing something while using only a very small amount of effort.
Examples
- You can keep the room clean with minimal effort if you tidy a little every day.
- The app lets you create a website with minimal effort.
- We finished the task with minimal effort thanks to good planning.
with minimal risk
1/wˈɪθ mˈɪnəməl ɹˈɪsk/
fixed phrase
with very little risk
Doing something in a way that makes it very unlikely that something bad will happen.
Examples
- This treatment allows patients to return to work with minimal risk.
- We want to invest the money with minimal risk.
- The new safety rules let staff enter the area with minimal risk.