mi·nus
ˈmī-nəs 
1
: algebraically negative
a minus quantity
minus ten degrees
2
: having a negative quality
3
: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plants (such as a fungus)
4
: falling low in a specified range
B minus
Examples of minus in a Sentence
Preposition
He left the restaurant minus his hat.
a fruit that looks like a peach, minus the fuzz
Noun
She decided that the pluses of owning a home outweighed the minuses.
Some employers see a lack of experience as a real minus.
Put the minus to the left of the number.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
The suit had to be both pressurized and able to handle temperatures of minus 72° Celsius (minus 97.6° Fahrenheit).
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Reath has little athletic pop, doesn’t rebound and is a minus defender overall.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 29 May 2025
Or that the minus number when the Knicks starters are on the floor is a little bit nuts.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for minus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Preposition
Meanwhile, Harry was at plus 35, Kate was at plus 43, William was at plus 53, Charles was at plus 21 and Camilla was at minus seven.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
The suit had to be both pressurized and able to handle temperatures of minus 72° Celsius (minus 97.6° Fahrenheit).
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Noun
The fund would hold Bitcoin in custody via Foris DAX Trust Company, LLC, and seek to mirror the digital currency's price minus fees and liabilities.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Reath has little athletic pop, doesn’t rebound and is a minus defender overall.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
The reason is that the fundamental scale in gravity is 10 to the minus 33 centimeters.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 29 May 2025
Or that the minus number when the Knicks starters are on the floor is a little bit nuts.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for minus
Cite this Entry
“Minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minus. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minus
1 of 3 preposition
mi·nus
ˈmī-nəs
1
: with the subtraction of : less
7 minus 4 is 3
2
: without entry 1 sense 3a
minus his hat
minus
2 of 3 noun1
: a negative quantity
2
: a negative quality
especially
: disadvantage entry 1 sense 2b
minus
3 of 3 adjective1
: mathematically negative
4 plus minus 3
2
: falling low in a specified range
a grade of C minus
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