The term 'the absolute minimum' refers to the LEAST amount of something that is necessary or required. It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as the LEAST amount of money needed to purchase something, the LEAST amount of time needed to complete a task, or the LEAST amount of effort needed to achieve a goal. The crossword solutions for this term are 'LEAST' (5 letters) and 'NONE' (4 letters). Both words indicate that the absolute minimum is the smallest amount possible.