subtraction
Americannoun
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an act or instance of subtracting.
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Mathematics. the operation or process of finding the difference between two numbers or quantities, denoted by a minus sign (−).
noun
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the act or process of subtracting
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a mathematical operation in which the difference between two numbers or quantities is calculated. Usually indicated by the symbol (–)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subtraction
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin subtractiōn- (stem of subtractiō ) a withdrawing, equivalent to subtract ( us ) ( see subtract) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
In math, subtraction is when you take one number away from another number. In other words, the subtraction of two from five gives you an answer of three. In school, subtraction is typically the second operation you learn in arithmetic, after addition. When a problem has you take four apples away from eight apples, that's subtraction. If you see the word minus, or the symbol -, that's also subtraction. The word itself comes from the Late Latin subtractionem, "a drawing back or taking away," from subtrahere, "take away," which combines sub, "from under," and trahere, "to pull."
Vocabulary lists containing subtraction
Arithmetic
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The Number System
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The Number System
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, also decreased.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
But there is a further subtraction for Irmaa, if your income exceeds certain thresholds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
“Marketplace is undergoing a rationalization, addition by subtraction, as we reduce our exposure while the risk pool stabilizes,” Zubretsky said, according to a FactSet transcript.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025
So, in terms of stress, watching baby animals animals playing is the opposite of a surprise job interview or an on-the-spot subtraction task.
From BBC • Oct. 12, 2025
You can read and write but can you do addition and subtraction?
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
