nominally

USAGE SUMMARY

"nominally" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb that means "in name only; not in substance or reality". For example: The CEO nominally holds the highest position in the company, but the CFO makes all the important decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And, because it nominally funds Social Security and Medicare, some liberals regard its continuance as essential to the survival of those programs.

The Economist

With a second season long confirmed, there's a sense that the nominally gritty Gotham is clearing out some of its cartoonish gangsters to make more room for cartoonish supervillains, even if it still can't quite figure out what to do with young Bruce Wayne.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

However, Sunday's appointment with Borussia Mönchengladbach, who will love to do to Dortmund what Dortmund do so well against nominally better sides – hit them with super-precise counterattacking football – is a pretty frightening prospect.

The Guardian - Sport

The chips tax, nominally about tackling obesity, was launched in 2011, a tax on text messaging and phone calls in 2012 and a financial transaction levy on paying bills and taking cash from an ATM last year.

The Guardian

Their bout nominally began at lunchtime, when the season's first Derby della Mole kicked off.

The Guardian - Sport

Lukashenko's first win was honest... but 1994 was the first and last proper election The 79-year-old former physics professor still nominally heads up a political movement, but he concedes that it's pointless.

The Guardian

And it's all a little weird, considering chapter two is nominally about Uber.

The Guardian - Opinion

It means that he has overall responsibility for output across digital and print platforms, although he will, even if nominally, be expected to report to Jason Seiken, the Telegraph Media Group's chief content officer and editor-in-chief.

The Guardian

While anyone can attend the poll for free, one has to have a $30 ticket to vote; the event is nominally a fundraiser for the state GOP.

The Guardian

Second, the systematic staffing of the judiciary and other nominally independent agencies with Fidesz appointees for exceptionally long periods.

The Guardian - Opinion

For more than a year, Islamists Boko Haram have fanned a slow-burning refugee crisis in Africa's most populous – and nominally richest – nation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nominally" to highlight a contrast between what is claimed or perceived and what is actually the case. It adds nuance by suggesting a difference between official status and practical reality.

Common error

Avoid using "nominally" when you simply mean "officially" or "formally". "Nominally" carries the additional implication that the official designation doesn't fully reflect the reality.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "nominally" modifies verbs or adjectives to express that something is the case in name only, or according to its formal designation, but not necessarily in reality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is grammatically sound and widely applicable in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "nominally" is a valuable tool for expressing that something is so in name only but may not be in reality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is frequently employed in News & Media to add nuance by suggesting a difference between official status and practical reality. Use "nominally" when you want to highlight a contrast between what is claimed or perceived and what is actually the case. Related phrases such as "in name only", "ostensibly", and "purportedly" can provide similar meaning, and "formally" indicates adherence to established rules or procedures, while "nominally" suggests a discrepancy between the official designation and the actual state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in name only

Emphasizes the contrast between the official designation and the true nature.

ostensibly

Suggests a surface appearance or claim that may conceal a different reality.

purportedly

Indicates that something is claimed to be true, but evidence may be lacking.

allegedly

Highlights that a statement is made without proof and is still under investigation.

seemingly

Focuses on the way something appears, without confirming its actual state.

theoretically

Implies something is true in theory but may not be in practice.

formally

Highlights compliance with established procedures without necessarily implying actual function.

on paper

Underscores that something exists only in written form, not necessarily in reality.

by all accounts

Indicates that something is the case according to available reports, though their accuracy isn't guaranteed.

superficially

Indicates a concern with only the outward appearance or surface features of something.

FAQs

How to use "nominally" in a sentence?

"Nominally" is used to indicate that something is so in name only, but not in reality. For instance, "The CEO "nominally" holds the highest position, but the CFO makes the important decisions".

What can I say instead of "nominally"?

You can use alternatives like "in name only", "ostensibly", or "purportedly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "nominally independent" or "actually independent"?

"Nominally independent" suggests independence in name only, while "actually independent" asserts genuine independence. The correct choice depends on whether the entity truly operates independently or not.

What's the difference between "nominally" and "formally"?

"Formally" indicates adherence to established rules or procedures, while "nominally" suggests a discrepancy between the official designation and the actual state. For example, a company might be "formally" compliant with regulations but "nominally" committed to ethical practices.