majority
the greater part or number; the number larger than half the total (opposed to minority): the majority of the population.
a number of voters or votes, jurors, or others in agreement, constituting more than half of the total number.
the amount by which the greater number, as of votes, surpasses the remainder (distinguished from plurality).
the party or faction with the majority vote: The Democratic Party is the majority.
the state or time of being of full legal age: to attain one's majority.
the military rank or office of a major.
Idioms about majority
join the (great) majority, to die.
Origin of majority
1synonym study For majority
Other words from majority
- non·ma·jor·i·ty, noun, plural non·ma·jor·i·ties.
- Compare majority-minority.
Words that may be confused with majority
- majority , plurality (see synonym study at the current entry)
Words Nearby majority
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use majority in a sentence
The majority of CU Boulder cases come from off-campus students.
Busting the filibuster and using a newly unleashed majority to uncork several major changes to the structure of American politics would be a shocking turn of events.
Since mid-June, a majority of the new coronavirus deaths each day have occurred in red states.
Trump blames blue states for the coronavirus death toll — but most recent deaths have been in red states | Philip Bump | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostPolls conducted in the past two months show a majority of Americans worry development of the vaccine is being rushed and a third wouldn’t get inoculated.
‘There’s been some cracks:’ Bill Gates questions FDA’s credibility on a COVID-19 vaccine | Claire Zillman, reporter | September 16, 2020 | FortuneThe truth is that the majority of gang members never commit a gang-related crime in their life.
While We’re Rethinking Policing, It’s Time to End Gang Injunctions | Jamie Wilson | September 15, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
I think a large majority of our fans are [other] nationalities.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHouse rules require an absolute majority of members voting to choose a speaker.
Again, I do not know House majority Whip Scalise or President Obama personally.
This is a state, after all, where Duke, in his statewide race for governor in 1991, received a majority of the white vote.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game | Michael Tomasky | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThough this too is debatable given that 25,000 to 40,000 people a year die of influenza—the vast majority of them unvaccinated.
When You Get the Flu This Winter, You Can Blame Anti-Vaxxers | Kent Sepkowitz | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTEver since his majority Lord Hetton had annually entered a colt in the great race.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsSuch is the opinion of this Correspondent to the Times, and it is doubtless the opinion of a fair and just majority.
While the majority pulled in one way there was an active minority that wished the Nana to set up an independent kingdom.
The Red Year | Louis TracyAt any rate, whatsoever that curious reservation meant, the majority of the staff were opposed to surrender.
The Red Year | Louis TracyThe majority pick up a job when they can, but are inevitably idle and suffering two-thirds of the time.
Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
British Dictionary definitions for majority
/ (məˈdʒɒrɪtɪ) /
the greater number or part of something: the majority of the constituents
(in an election) the number of votes or seats by which the strongest party or candidate beats the combined opposition or the runner-up: See relative majority, absolute majority
the largest party or group that votes together in a legislative or deliberative assembly
the time of reaching or state of having reached full legal age, when a person is held competent to manage his own affairs, exercise civil rights and duties, etc
the rank, office, or commission of major
euphemistic the dead (esp in the phrases join the majority, go or pass over to the majority)
obsolete the quality or state of being greater; superiority
(modifier) of, involving, or being a majority: a majority decision; a majority verdict
in the majority forming or part of the greater number of something
Origin of majority
1usage For majority
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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