nominative

[ nom-uh-nuh-tiv, nom-nuh- or, for 2, 3, nom-uh-ney-tiv ]

adjective
  1. Grammar.

    • (in certain inflected languages, as Sanskrit, Latin, and Russian) noting a case having as its function the indication of the subject of a finite verb, as in Latin Nauta bonus est “The sailor is good,” with nauta “sailor” in the nominative case.

    • similar to such a case in function or meaning.: Compare subjective.

  2. nominated; appointed by nomination.

  1. made out in a person's name, as a certificate or security.

nounGrammar.
  1. the nominative case.

  2. a word in the nominative case.

  1. a form or construction of similar function or meaning.

Origin of nominative

1
1350–1400; <Latin nominātīvus (see nominate, -ive), replacing Middle English nominatif<Middle French <Latin as above

Other words from nominative

  • nom·i·na·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·nom·i·na·tive, adjective

Words Nearby nominative

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How to use nominative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nominative

nominative

/ (ˈnɒmɪnətɪv, ˈnɒmnə-) /


adjective
  1. grammar denoting a case of nouns and pronouns in inflected languages that is used esp to identify the subject of a finite verb: See also subjective (def. 6)

  2. appointed rather than elected to a position, office, etc

  1. bearing the name of a person

noun
  1. grammar

    • the nominative case

    • a word or speech element in the nominative case

Origin of nominative

1
C14: from Latin nōminātīvus belonging to naming, from nōmen name

Derived forms of nominative

  • nominatival (ˌnɒmɪnəˈtaɪvəl, ˌnɒmnə-), adjective
  • nominatively, adverb

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