[nom.i.nal] adj [ME nominalle, fr. ML nominalis, fr. L, of a name, fr. nomin-, nomen name--more at name] (15c) 1: of, relating to, or being a noun or a word or expression taking a noun construction
2. a: of, relating to, or constituting a name b: bearing the name of a person 3 a: existing or being something in name or form only "~ head of his party" b: of, being, or relating to a designated or theoretical size that may vary from the actual: approximate c: trifling, insignificant
4. of a rate of interest a: equal to the annual rate of simple interest that would obtain if interest were not compounded when in fact it is compounded and paid for periods of less than a year b: equal to the percentage by which a repaid loan exceeds the principal borrowed with no adjustment made for inflation
5: being according to plan: satisfactory "everything was ~ during the spacecraft launch" -- nom.i.nal.ly adv
[2]nominal n (1904): a word or word group functioning as a noun