minimal

adjective

min·​i·​mal ˈmi-nə-məl How to pronounce minimal (audio)
1
: relating to or being a minimum: such as
a
: the least possible
a victory won with minimal loss of life
b
: barely adequate
a minimal standard of living
c
: very small or slight
a minimal interest in art
2
often capitalized : of, relating to, or being minimal art or minimalism
minimally adverb

Examples of minimal in a Sentence

The storm caused minimal damage. areas at minimal risk for flooding
Recent Examples on the Web But farm workers say federal monitoring of work in the fields is sporadic at best and the industry’s own standards are minimal. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 And even a minimal absence knocks the short and long-term trajectory of this team off-kilter. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Lofty tech goals On Tuesday, much of Li’s speech was devoted to the country’s strategic goals, including plans to boost the annual budget for science and technology by 10% to $51.6 billion, the biggest increase since 2019 after years of minimal growth. Laura He, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 But the rivalry between Jaheim and Rupert, or Leah’s attempts to challenge the authority of Headmaster Bernard (Derek Riddell), could fit into many locales and eras with minimal changes. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 In addition, those three films had minimal TV ad impressions on streaming platforms, according to iSpot. Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Play your cards right and a meal can be made with minimal effort; just don’t be the rube who stalks the kitchen door. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Russian officials confirmed an explosion on the bridge but said the damage was minimal. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 The Palm Beach Post sued the Palm Beach County state attorney and the court clerk in 2019 to obtain a court order to unseal the grand jury proceedings and reveal why the grand jury returned only minimal charges. Shira Moolten, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'minimal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of minimal was in 1666

Dictionary Entries Near minimal

Cite this Entry

“Minimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

minimal

adjective
min·​i·​mal ˈmin-ə-məl How to pronounce minimal (audio)
: relating to or being a minimum : least
minimally adverb

Medical Definition

minimal

adjective
min·​i·​mal ˈmin-ə-məl How to pronounce minimal (audio)
: relating to or being a minimum : constituting the least possible with respect to size, number, degree, or certain stated conditions
tuberosity fractures heal with minimal … treatmentJ. S. Keene et al.
residents receive a minimal level of personal careA. S. Oser
side effects are minimal

More from Merriam-Webster on minimal

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