mi·nus
ˈmī-nəs 
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
CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
The experiments took place at room temperature, but the team plans to test whether sodium niobate behaves similarly under extreme conditions ranging from minus 270 °C to 1,000 °C.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
But Minnesota lost his 40 minutes by 12 points, the same plus-minus recorded by Randle, who committed five turnovers — including two in overtime.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
San Diego County’s coastline is rich with underwater reefs that appear during these minus-tide cycles.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preposition
Prescott was precise — minus a miss of a wide-open CeeDee Lamb for an easy touchdown — completing 25 of 44 passes to snap his four-game winless streak (0-3-1) in prime-time games.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
The experiments took place at room temperature, but the team plans to test whether sodium niobate behaves similarly under extreme conditions ranging from minus 270 °C to 1,000 °C.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Kawhi Leonard returned to the lineup and played 28 minutes, finishing with 19 points (6‑14 FG), five rebounds, and three assists, plus a team‑high -14 plus/minus, while James Harden led the Clippers with 29 points.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
But Minnesota lost his 40 minutes by 12 points, the same plus-minus recorded by Randle, who committed five turnovers — including two in overtime.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Miami is 6-2 in those games, though the Heat is a minus 12 in their 222 minutes together.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
San Diego County’s coastline is rich with underwater reefs that appear during these minus-tide cycles.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 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 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share