de minimis
adjective
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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
Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
However, the suspension of the de minimis rule now means that lower value shipments will now be subject to an additional 10% to 50% levy that coincides with the tariff rate of the country of origin, or a flat rate of $80 to $200, depending on which option the seller chooses.
—Rhett Buttle, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But the de minimis change, adding tariffs to shipments valued under $800, came as a surprise.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
What To Know According to a 2024 National Bureau of Economic Research paper, eliminating de minimis could reduce consumer welfare by up to $13 billion each year, with lower-income households feeling the greatest impact.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de minimis
Cite this Entry
“De minimis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de%20minimis. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
de minimis
adjective
Note: An action may be dismissed if the claim or cause is considered de minimis.
New Latin, concerning trifles
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