de minimis

adjective

de min·​i·​mis dē-ˈmi-nə-məs 

dā-ˈmē-ni-mis

: lacking significance or importance : so minor as to merit disregard

de minimis fringe benefits

what amounts to a de minimis tax increase

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• chicken
• footling
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• insignificant
• measly
• Mickey Mouse
• minute
• negligible
• niggling
• no-account
• nominal
• paltry
• peanut
• petty
• picayune
• piddling
• piddly
• piffling
• pimping
• slight
• trifling
• trivial

Examples of de minimis in a Sentence

investors disappointed by stock dividends that were decidedly de minimis

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast, smaller shipments are delivered by plane to fulfill de minimis orders. —Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 4 Sep. 2024

Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images A Temu spokesperson told CNBC in a statement that its growth isn’t dependent on the de minimis exemption. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 29 July 2024

Savings from de minimis exceptions could be passed on to consumers, its proponents argue, making foreign products more accessible. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 16 Aug. 2024

Amazon’s Zapolsky said the company hasn’t taken a stance on whether lawmakers should clamp down on de minimis shipments. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 29 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, concerning trifles

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

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Legal Definition

de minimis

adjective

de min·​i·​mis dē-ˈmi-nə-məs, dā-ˈmē-ni-mis 

: lacking significance or importance : so minor as to be disregarded compare substantial

Note: An action may be dismissed if the claim or cause is considered de minimis.

Etymology

New Latin, concerning trifles