de minimis
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin de minimīs, ablative of minimus (“smallest, least”); shortened form of the legal maxim de minimis non curat lex (literally “the law does not concern itself with trifling matters”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
de minimis (not comparable)
- Concerning things that are so minor as to be negligible, trivial, or trifling. Often used to describe exemptions in government rules and regulations.
- The tax is not payable on amounts below the de minimis limit of £100 per year.
- The de minimis rules on import duty mean that alcohol for personal consumption is exempt from any charge.
- 2025 February 7, Lauren Aratani, “Trump delays key piece of China tariff plan amid threats to other countries”, in The Guardian[1], →ISSN:
- On Tuesday, the US Postal Service briefly halted all incoming packages from China and Hong Kong after Trump ended a de minimis provision that allowed low-value packages from China to enter the US duty-free.
- 2025 May 2, Elisabeth Buchwald and Ramishah Maruf, “A massive tariff on millions of Americans’ purchases just went into effect — cue the chaos”, in CNN[2]:
- The de minimis exemption, as it’s known, allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, often more or less skipping time-consuming inspections and paperwork.
- (law) Beneath the notice of the law; so minor as not to warrant a penalty or remedy.
- The behaviour of the accused was technically assault, but the judge found it de minimis and entered an acquittal.