Minimal Meaning
/ˈmɪn.ɪ.məl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjThe smallest possible amount, quantity, or degree.
adjThe smallest possible amount, quantity, or degree., Among elements of some collection, such that no other element is greater (with respect to some given partial order).
Sentence Examples
The chances that that happens are minimal.
The notion of "minimal pair" in linguistics has the lovely power of immediately convincing.
The work was carried out at minimal cost.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor said the risk of infection was ____, so there was almost nothing to worry about.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The damage to the car after the small accident was ____, consisting of only a few very light scratches on the front bumper.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English minimum Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English minimal From minimum + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] we seek in explaining mental phenomena and behavior always the "minimals," the little fragments of association, on which the mind is (passively) supposed to be based."
— 1994, David Holbrook, Creativity and Popular Culture, page 37:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor said the risk of infection was ____, so there was almost nothing to worry about.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The damage to the car after the small accident was ____, consisting of only a few very light scratches on the front bumper.