minimum B1 Topic:General Vocabulary US /ˈmɪnəməm/ UK /ˈmɪnɪməm/ See IPA manual Freq #5358 Meanings 1 noun The smallest amount or lowest level that is possible or allowed. You need a minimum of four years' experience for this job. 2 adj Being the smallest amount or lowest level allowed. The minimum age for the ride is eight years old. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the smallest amount or... lower limit 2 adj · being the smallest amount... minimal ↔ Opposites maximum Word family Forms minimaminimums Derived forms maximinminacminarchismminarchyminheapminimaxminimum-securityminimumweightnonminimumsubminimum Related forms minimalminimiseminimize Appears in Phrases (2) See all minimum wage the lowest pay rate permitted by an applicable law or agreement Adjective + noun irreducible minimum the smallest amount that cannot be reduced any further Adjective + noun Etymology AI details Learned borrowing from Latin minimum, neuter form of minimus (“least, smallest”). *mey- (small) Proto-Indo-European minimum Latin View etymology graph -> Topics General Vocabulary External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # minimum **Type:** Word **Level:** B1 **Part of speech:** noun, adj **IPA (US):** /ˈmɪnəməm/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈmɪnɪməm/ **Frequency rank:** 5358 ## Meanings 1. The smallest amount or lowest level that is possible or allowed. 2. Being the smallest amount or lowest level allowed. ## Examples - You need a minimum of four years' experience for this job. - The minimum age for the ride is eight years old. ## Antonyms - maximum ## Derived Forms - maximin - minac - minarchism - minarchy - minheap - minimax - minimum-security - minimumweight - nonminimum - subminimum ## Related Forms - minimal - minimise - minimize ## Roots and Affixes - Root: *mey- (small) - Root: minimum ## Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin minimum, neuter form of minimus (“least, smallest”). ## AI Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin minimum, neuter form of minimus (“least, smallest”). In present-day English its meanings include the smallest amount or lowest level that is possible or allowed and being the smallest amount or lowest level allowed. The historical chain runs through *mey- (small) (Proto-Indo-European) and minimum (Latin). Related and derived forms include minimal, minimise, minimize, and maximin. ## Topics - General Vocabulary markdown