de minimis

adjective

de min·i·mis dē-ˈmi-nə-məs

dā-ˈmē-ni-mis

Synonyms of de minimis next

: lacking significance or importance : so minor as to merit disregard

de minimis fringe benefits

what amounts to a de minimis tax increase

Did you know?

Proponents of readable prose over jargon and legalese might argue that the last thing 20th-century American jurisprudence needed was another Latin term. Yet here we have a legal term that entered English only around 1950. Perhaps we should clarify: the legal doctrine of de minimis non curat lex ("the law does not concern itself with trifling matters") has been around for a while, but use of de minimis on its own is relatively recent. At first, the shortened phrase was simply used to refer to the legal doctrine itself ("the de minimis rule"). Then it came to be used more broadly as an adjective ("de minimis contacts with the defendant"). Finally, de minimis leaked out of the courtroom and into the world at large.

Examples of de minimis in a Sentence

investors disappointed by stock dividends that were decidedly de minimis

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Companies like Shein, Temu, Amazon and Wayfair are users of the de minimis shipments, mostly without the consumer aware of the process. —

Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 That wave is sweeping through countries globally, with the likes of South Africa eliminating its de minimis exception; United States and EU leaders calling for change to their respective de minimis provisions and more. —

Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 Dec. 2024 Known as the de minimis loophole, the provision allows packages less than $800 to enter the U.S. with less scrutiny and without paying import duties. —

Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2024 Lululemon may be heavily affected by such a trade war if de minimis thresholds are made low, affecting lower-value goods like those the company produces. —

Gurufocus, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for de minimis