adjective
pronominal
pruh-NOM-in-uhl
Pronominal (adjective) means relating to, resembling, or functioning as a pronoun. Example: “'It' is a pronominal word standing in for something already mentioned.”
adjective
1
linguistics, grammar Relating to, resembling, or functioning as a pronoun.
"'It' is a pronominal word standing in for something already mentioned."
"The pronominal use of 'this' points back to the previous sentence."
"Grammar books often list pronominal forms alongside verbs and nouns."
noun
1
grammar A phrase that acts as a pronoun.
"'The one on the shelf' works as a pronominal standing in for a noun already mentioned."
"The teacher asked the class to find every pronominal phrase in the paragraph."
"'Any of those' is a pronominal referring back to a group named earlier."
How to use pronominal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPronominal simply means acting like, or related to, a pronoun.
When to use it
Pronominal is a technical grammar term, mostly found in linguistics teaching rather than everyday speech.
Memory tip
The variant spelling pronomial means the same thing, but pronominal is the more standard form.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a pronominal form
pronominal use
a pronominal adjective
pronominal reference
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Fill the gap
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'It' is a _____ word standing in for something already mentioned.
Etymology
Pronominal comes from Late Latin prōnōminālis, itself from Latin prōnōmen, meaning pronoun. It can also be read as pro- joined to nominal.
Synonyms
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pronomial
Rhymes for pronominal
See all rhymes for pronominal →Frequently asked questions
What does pronominal mean?
Pronominal describes something that relates to, or functions as, a pronoun.
What is an example of a pronominal?
Words such as 'it', 'this' or 'someone' are pronominals because they stand in for a noun.
Is pronominal only used in grammar?
Yes, it is a term from linguistics and grammar, used to describe or label pronoun-like words.
What is the meaning of pronominal?
"pronominal" (adjective) means relating to, resembling, or functioning as a pronoun.
