de minimis
adjective
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Proponents of readable prose over jargon and legalese might argue that the last thing 20th-century American jurisprudence needed was another Latin term. Yet here we have a legal term that entered English only around 1950. Perhaps we should clarify: the legal doctrine of de minimis non curat lex ("the law does not concern itself with trifling matters") has been around for a while, but use of de minimis on its own is relatively recent. At first, the shortened phrase was simply used to refer to the legal doctrine itself ("the de minimis rule"). Then it came to be used more broadly as an adjective ("de minimis contacts with the defendant"). Finally, de minimis leaked out of the courtroom and into the world at large.
Examples of de minimis in a Sentence
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
While the de minimis loophole was instrumental in the rise of super-cheap Chinese retailers Shein and Temu, Forbes senior contributor Joan Verdon writes these are examples of big companies that can work around their impact.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The de minimis exemption—a tariff loophole that for years made millions of direct-to-consumer imports duty free—is gone, and its end marks a structural shift for American shoppers and logistics providers.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
The de minimis exemption for low-value packages sent to the United States ended Friday, wreaking havoc on international shipping as mail companies, businesses and consumers try to navigate the new rules.
—Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de minimis
Cite this Entry
“De minimis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de%20minimis. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
de minimis
adjective
Note: An action may be dismissed if the claim or cause is considered de minimis.
New Latin, concerning trifles
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