Minimum — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈmi-nə-məm/ min·i·mum

Meaning & Definition of Minimum

Minimum (noun)

  1. the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible
  2. the least of a set of numbers; specifically, the smallest value assumed by a continuous function defined on a closed interval
  3. the lowest degree or amount of variation (as of temperature) reached or recorded

Minimum (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being the least in amount, number, or size possible

    "spent the minimum amount necessary to acquire the property"

    similar: fewest, littlest, lowest, minimal, minutest, slightest, smallest, tiniest
    related: fewer, lesser, low, minor, modest, slight, small, smaller, infinitesimal, micro, subminimal, ultramicro, irreducible
    opposite: biggest, full, greatest, hugest, largest, maximum, most, top, topmost, utmost
    near: highest

Minimum (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in semblance, modicum

    similar: hoot, iota, jot, minim, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful, scattering, smatter, smattering, dose, shot, chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter, tatter
    opposite: abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth, volume, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, chunk, hunk, lump, slab

Related Entry: Minimum wage (noun)

Minimum wage is a different word from Minimum. The synonyms below are for minimum wage, not for minimum.

  1. an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law

    "Congress will vote on a bill to raise the minimum wage."

    similar: living wage, nominal wages, take-home pay, emolument, hire, packet (British), pay, paycheck, pay envelope, payment, salary, stipend, wage, double time, overtime, time and a half, compensation, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital, return, recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution, reimbursement, repayment, earnings, profit, takings, yield

Related Entry: Minimum wages (noun)

Minimum wages is a different word from Minimum. The synonyms below are for minimum wages, not for minimum.

  1. an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law

    "Congress will vote on a bill to raise the minimum wage."

    similar: living wages, nominal wages, take-home pays, emoluments, hires, packets (British), paychecks, pay envelopes, payments, pays, salaries, stipends, wages, double times, overtimes, time and a halfs, compensations, recompenses, remittances, remunerations, requitals, returns, recoupments, redresses, reparations, restitutions, reimbursements, repayments, earnings, profits, takings, yields

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Minimum

The most common words with a similar meaning to Minimum:

fewest, littlest, lowest, minimal, minutest, slightest, smallest, tiniest, hoot, iota, jot, minim, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Minimum

Words with the opposite meaning of Minimum:

biggest, full, greatest, hugest, largest, maximum, most, top, topmost, utmost, abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings, loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck

Related Words for Minimum

fewer, lesser, low, minor, modest, slight, small, smaller, infinitesimal, micro, subminimal, ultramicro, irreducible

Near Antonyms of Minimum

highest

Word Forms of Minimum

Inflections: minima, minimums

Derived words: minimum (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Minimum

Latin, neuter of minimus smallest; akin to Latin minor smaller minor

First known use: 1646

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Minimum

Words & Phrases Containing Minimum

minimum wage, minimum security prison, alternative minimum tax, at a/the minimum, to a (bare) minimum, subminimum

Frequently Asked Questions about Minimum

What does "Minimum" mean?

"Minimum" means the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Minimum"?

Other words for "Minimum" include fewest, littlest, lowest, minimal, minutest, slightest, smallest and tiniest. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Minimum" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Minimum"?

There are 106 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Minimum". Common alternatives include fewest, littlest, lowest, minimal, minutest, slightest, smallest, tiniest, hoot and iota.

What is the opposite of "Minimum"?

Antonyms of "Minimum" include biggest, full, greatest, hugest, largest, maximum, most and top. Near antonyms include highest.

How do you use "Minimum" in a sentence?

Examples of "Minimum" in a sentence: "spent the minimum amount necessary to acquire the property".

Is "Minimum" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Minimum" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Minimum" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Minimum" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Minimum"?

"Minimum" is pronounced /ˈmi-nə-məm/ and divided into syllables as min·i·mum.