De minimis is a legal principle that allows matters of insufficient importance or small scale to be exempted from a rule or requirement.
It’s about something lacking significance or importance de min·i·mis dē-ˈmi-nə-məs, dā-ˈmē-ni-mis. : lacking significance or importance: so minor as to be disregarded, compare substantial. Note: An action may be dismissed if the claim or cause is considered de minimis.
The de minimis principle, also known as the de minimis rule, is a legal principle that states that minor matters or things of little value or importance should not be considered by the law. The principle is used in a variety of contexts, including criminal law, hazardous materials, and pension plans:
The following is an example of a de minimus clause in a pension plan: “If a member’s total retirement benefit at the time of exit (including resignation, retrenchment, or retirement) is equal to or less than R247,500, the fund may pay the entire benefit as a lump sum without requiring the member to purchase a compulsory annuity.”