/min"euh meuh list/ , n.
1. a person who favors a moderate approach to the achievement of a set of goals or who holds minimal expectations for the success of a program.
2. a practitioner of minimalism in music or art.
adj.
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of minimalism.
4. being or offering no more than what is required or essential: a minimalist program for tax reform.
[ 1905-10; in political use minimaliste (see MINIMAL, -IST), trans. of Russ men'shevík MENSHEVIK; subsequent uses perh. recoinage with MINIMAL, -IST ]