de minimis
adjective
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.
Synonyms
Examples of de minimis in a Sentence
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
The analyst thinks the removal of the de minimis trade exemption on goods from China — which exempts packages valued less than $800 from import fees — could actually be a positive tailwind by putting outsized pressure on Chinese e-commerce competitor Temu.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025
While critics argue that the de minimis exemption gave Chinese companies an unfair advantage, experts believe both Temu and Shein will continue to thrive.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 6 Feb. 2025
His tariff orders reversed a long-standing shipping loophole: the de minimis exemption.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for de minimis 
Dictionary Entries Near de minimis
Cite this Entry
“De minimis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de%20minimis. Accessed 13 Feb. 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
Share