nom ‧ i ‧ nal /ˈnɒmən ə l, ˈnɒmɪn ə l $ ˈnɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: nominalis , from nomen 'name' ]
1 . nominal sum/charge/fee etc a very small sum of money, especially when compared with what something would usually cost or what it is worth:
A nominal charge is made for use of the tennis courts.
2 . officially described as being something, when this is not really true:
the nominal head of the rebellion
Their conversion to Christianity was only nominal.
3 . nominal value/rate/income etc technical a nominal value etc does not show what something is really worth or really costs, because it does not take into account changes in the price of other goods and services OPP real :
If prices rise and the nominal wage remains constant, the real wage falls.
4 . technical relating to nouns or used as a noun:
the nominal use of the present participle