minimal

USAGE SUMMARY

Minimal is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used as an adjective meaning very small in amount, size, or degree. Example sentence: The artist decided to keep her design as minimal as possible.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland's Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.

The Guardian

These are baby steps and will have minimal impact on the lives of low-wage workers.

The Guardian - Money

The father of the woman at the centre of the controversy told the court on Tuesday: "My daughter is dead, the chances of the foetus surviving are minimal, we have been told.

The Guardian

All the medical experts who gave evidence in the case earlier this week said the chances of the unborn child surviving were minimal.

The Guardian

The bed, bathroom, toilet and TV come as a modular unit, the "cubi", which can be quickly and cheaply installed, creating minimal environmental impact and bringing new life to empty buildings.

The Guardian - Travel

High inflation and minimal wage growth led to falling real incomes and a slower recovery.

The Guardian - Business

They are cooked the old-fashioned way – with minimal preservatives – and are great for porridge, although they take longer to cook as a result of the way they've been cut.

The Guardian

As a general rule, while private investment is growing, public investment should play a minimal role.

The Guardian - Business

The minimal, wee-small-hours Desert Night is no 35.

The Guardian

Nestlé insists its water use is efficient and has minimal impact on the environment – something that activists reject out of hand.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is increasingly important for us to operate and deliver services that have a positive impact on our future, and a minimal impact on the environment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for brevity and simplicity, use "minimal" to describe efforts, designs, or impacts. This implies efficiency and focus on essential elements.

Common error

While "minimal" is versatile, avoid overuse in casual conversations. Alternatives like "tiny" or "small" might sound more natural and less formal.

Linguistic Context

The word "minimal" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a very small amount, degree, or extent. As supported by Ludwig AI, it describes the state of something being at its lowest possible level.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minimal" functions as an adjective denoting the least possible amount or degree. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its usage is considered grammatically correct and it appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While it expresses simplicity and efficiency, being mindful of its formal tone is advisable, and alternative terms like "least" or "negligible" may be more appropriate in casual settings. The frequency of its appearance in authoritative sources like The Guardian underscores its established and reliable use in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum

Direct synonym referring to the least possible quantity or degree.

least

Indicates the smallest amount or degree possible.

negligible

Suggests the amount is so small it's not worth considering.

insignificant

Emphasizes the lack of importance due to small size or amount.

scant

Implies a barely sufficient or inadequate amount.

paltry

Suggests a very small and often worthless amount.

limited

Indicates a restricted or small quantity.

reduced

Highlights the act of making something smaller or less.

basic

Describes something essential but not exceeding what's necessary.

elementary

Refers to the simplest or most fundamental aspects.

FAQs

How to use "minimal" in a sentence?

You can use "minimal" to describe something that is the smallest possible amount or degree. For example, "The cyclone caused "minimal damage"" or "The design was "minimal and elegant"".

What can I say instead of "minimal"?

You can use alternatives like "minimum", "negligible", or "insignificant" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "minimal impact" or "minimum impact"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "minimal impact" often implies a slight or almost unnoticeable effect, while "minimum impact" suggests the least possible impact under given circumstances.

What's the difference between "minimal" and "basic"?

"Minimal" implies something is reduced to the smallest necessary amount or degree, whereas "basic" refers to something that is fundamental or essential, without unnecessary additions.