minus

[ mahy-nuhs ]

preposition

1. less by the subtraction of; decreased by:

   Ten minus six is four.

2. lacking or without:

   a book minus its title page.

adjective

1. involving or noting subtraction.
2. algebraically negative:

   a minus quantity.

3. less than; just below in quality:

   to get a C minus on a test.

4. Informal. having negative qualities or characteristics; inferior.
5. Mycology. (in heterothallic fungi) designating, in the absence of morphological differentiation, one of the two strains of mycelia that unite in the sexual process.

noun

1. minus sign.
2. a minus quantity.
3. a deficiency or loss.
4. Informal. a person or thing with no apparent abilities, usefulness, etc.:

   The last applicant was a definite minus.

minus

/ ˈmaɪnəs /

preposition

1. reduced by the subtraction of

   four minus two (written 4 – 2)

2. informal.
   deprived of; lacking

   minus the trimmings, that hat would be ordinary

adjective

1. 1. indicating or involving subtraction

      a minus sign

   2. Alsonegative having a value or designating a quantity less than zero

      a minus number

2. on the negative part of a scale or coordinate axis

   a value of minus 40°C

3. involving a disadvantage, harm, etc

   a minus factor

4. postpositive education slightly below the standard of a particular grade

   he received a B minus for his essay

5. botany designating the strain of a fungus that can only undergo sexual reproduction with a plus strain
6. denoting a negative electric charge

noun

1. short for minus sign
2. a negative quantity
3. a disadvantage, loss, or deficit
4. informal.
   something detrimental or negative

Word History and Origins

Origin of minus¹

1300–50; Middle English < Latin, neuter of minor less; minor

Word History and Origins

Origin of minus¹

C15: from Latin, neuter of minor

Example Sentences

On some level, this explains how Turner finished that game as a plus-15 in plus-minus without having monster box-score stats.

From FiveThirtyEight

Predicted capacity in 2030 is based on how many new plants are in the pipeline minus those that will be retired by 2030 as well as those that the study predicts are likely to fail.

From Science News

If you got a 90 percent on a math test instead of a 93 percent, you would still get an “A,” or at least an “A-minus.”

From Washington Post

Satellite speakers produce the entire range of audio, minus the bass.

From Popular-Science

We’ve built 30 plus or minus high-rises between Hoboken, Jersey City, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

From Time

Normally, 434 members (minus Michael Grimm who resigned) would vote for Speaker.

From The Daily Beast

Which prompts the question: In a GOP field minus Portman, what role will same-sex marriage play?

From The Daily Beast

After all, 2009 was miserable: minus 798,000, minus 701,000, minus 826,000, and so on.

From The Daily Beast

Refuge Recovery is a lot like an AA meeting minus mentions of Him, God, or a higher Power.

From The Daily Beast

Molly holds the reputation of being an unadulterated drug—Ecstasy minus any and all substances used to cut it.

From The Daily Beast

And she emptied her pockets of all the letters, minus the envelopes, that Fleurette had written.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Biggs opened her window cautiously, and thrust out her head, minus her false hair, and enveloped in a cotton nightcap.

From Project Gutenberg

The massive shoulders that started minus courtesy of neck from right beneath his double chin.

From Project Gutenberg

Susie Billings, minus her khaki and cartridges, looked the picture of demureness in white muslin and baby-blue ribbons.

From Project Gutenberg

Now one is obliged to ask, why minus multiplied by minus must give any product at all?

From Project Gutenberg