1
: a negative quantity
2
: a negative quality
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
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
In real life, Palermo is all that minus the dark mystery.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
In dollars, that is about $194 billion of loans outstanding, and 58% of it carries a borrower rating of B-minus or lower, the bottom rung before the territory where defaults cluster.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Most of the facility is kept at a constant 34 degrees , which is balmy compared to the minus 15 that those working in the freezer section must endure.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for minus
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Preposition
The standard platform is rated IP66 against dust and water intrusion, functions in temperatures from minus 20 to 55 degrees Celsius, carries payloads exceeding 8 kilograms, and can automatically locate and travel to a charging station when battery levels become low.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
In real life, Palermo is all that minus the dark mystery.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026
Noun
Brunson finished the game minus-nine, while the Knicks outscored the Spurs by five in Jose Alvarado’s nine minutes on the floor.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
In dollars, that is about $194 billion of loans outstanding, and 58% of it carries a borrower rating of B-minus or lower, the bottom rung before the territory where defaults cluster.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Adjective
Guadalajara This is the only match of the first three days without a minus-odds favorite.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Most of the facility is kept at a constant 34 degrees , which is balmy compared to the minus 15 that those working in the freezer section must endure.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for minus
Cite this Entry
“Minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minus. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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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