minimum
MIH-nih-muhm
Minimum (noun) means the smallest amount, level, or degree possible or allowed. Example: “The minimum wage was raised last year.”
noun
1
The smallest amount, level, or degree possible or allowed.
"The minimum wage was raised last year."
"Please try to keep noise to a minimum after 10pm."
"We need a minimum of four players to start the match."
adj
1
The lowest amount or degree allowed or required.
"The minimum age to apply is eighteen."
"You must be a minimum height to ride this roller coaster."
"The minimum order for free delivery is quite low."
How to use minimum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe least amount that is possible, needed, or allowed.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
minimum wage
bare minimum
minimum requirement
keep to a minimum
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Word forms
- Plural
- minima, minimums
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The _____ wage was raised last year.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin minimum, the neuter form of minimus, "least" or "smallest."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for minimum
See all rhymes for minimum →Frequently asked questions
What does “minimum” mean?
The word “minimum” means the smallest amount, level, or degree possible or allowed. In plain terms, the least amount that is possible, needed, or allowed.
How do you pronounce “minimum”?
“Minimum” is pronounced MIH-nih-muhm (/ˈmɪnəməm/ in IPA).
How do you use “minimum” in a sentence?
Here is “minimum” used in a sentence: “The minimum wage was raised last year.”
What is the opposite of “minimum”?
The opposite of “minimum” — its antonyms — is maximum.
What part of speech is “minimum”?
Depending on how it is used, “minimum” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “minimum” come from?
The word “minimum” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin minimum, the neuter form of minimus, "least" or "smallest.".
Is “minimum” a common word?
“Minimum” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “minimum” have?
“Minimum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the smallest amount, level, or degree possible or allowed.
What is the difference between minimum and maximum?
They are opposites. Minimum is the smallest amount, level, or degree possible or allowed; maximum is the largest. A minimum order is the least you may buy, while a maximum is the most. A simple way to remember: mini hints at small, so minimum is the low end and maximum the high end.
What is the plural of minimum?
Two forms are accepted. Minima is the traditional Latin plural, common in science, mathematics, and formal writing. Minimums is the regular English plural and is perfectly correct in everyday use. Both refer to more than one minimum value; choose whichever suits your context and audience, then stay consistent.
Can minimum be used as an adjective?
Yes. Although it is a noun, minimum frequently works before another noun to mean the least required or allowed: minimum wage, minimum age, minimum balance, minimum temperature. In these phrases it sets the lowest acceptable level. The core meaning stays the same — the smallest amount involved.
What is an example of minimum?
Common examples include the minimum wage, the lowest hourly pay an employer may legally give; a minimum age for driving or voting; a minimum spend before a card payment is accepted; or the minimum temperature recorded overnight. Each marks the smallest amount or level permitted or reached.
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