majority
muh-JO-rih-tee
Majority (noun) means More than half of a group or total. Example: “The majority of students in my class walk to school.”
noun
1
More than half of a group or total.
"The majority of students in my class walk to school."
"The majority of voters supported the new law."
"A clear majority backed the proposal."
2
The legal age at which a person is considered an adult.
"In many countries, a person reaches majority at eighteen."
"A contract signed before the age of majority may not be binding."
"She reaches the age of majority next year."
How to use majority
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMore than 50% of a group, or the age at which someone legally becomes an adult.
Common pairings
vast majority
majority vote
age of majority
win a majority
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Word forms
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Etymology
From Middle French maiorité, from Medieval Latin maioritas, from Latin maior ("greater").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for majority
See all rhymes for majority →Frequently asked questions
What does “majority” mean?
The word “majority” means more than half of a group or total. In plain terms, more than 50% of a group, or the age at which someone legally becomes an adult.
How do you pronounce “majority”?
“Majority” is pronounced muh-JO-rih-tee (/məˈd͡ʒɑ.ɹɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “majority” in a sentence?
Here is “majority” used in a sentence: “The majority of voters supported the new law.”
What part of speech is “majority”?
“Majority” is a noun.
Where does the word “majority” come from?
The word “majority” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle French maiorité, from Medieval Latin maioritas, from Latin maior ("greater").
Is “majority” a common word?
“Majority” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “majority” have?
“Majority” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: more than half of a group or total.
What is the difference between a majority and a minority?
They are opposites. A majority is more than half of a group — the larger part. A minority is less than half — the smaller part. If 70 people out of 100 agree, they are the majority, and the remaining 30 are the minority.
What is the difference between a majority and a plurality?
A majority means more than half of the total — over 50%. A plurality means the largest share, even if it is under half. In a three-way vote, a candidate with 40% has a plurality but not a majority, because more than half of voters still chose someone else.
What are the types of majority?
In voting, several kinds exist. A simple majority means more votes than the alternative. An absolute majority means more than half of all eligible votes. A supermajority sets a higher bar, such as two-thirds, and is often required for major decisions like changing a constitution.
Does 'majority' always mean more than half?
In its strict sense, yes — a majority is more than 50% of a group or total. Loosely, people sometimes say 'the majority' to mean simply 'most' or 'the greater part', without counting precisely. In formal contexts like elections and law, the exact 'more than half' meaning matters.
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