minus

1 of 3

preposition

mi·​nus ˈmī-nəs 

1

: diminished by : less

seven minus four is three

2

: deprived of : without

left minus his hat

minus

2 of 3

noun

1

: a negative quantity

2

: a negative quality

especially : drawback

decided the pluses of owning a house outweighed the minuses

minus

3 of 3

adjective

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

Synonyms of minus

Preposition

• without

Noun

• disadvantage
• handicap
• negative
• downside

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

Preposition

Ablon also offered to purchase all of AT&T’s real estate holdings in downtown minus the Whitacre Tower property, which is owned by Pacific Elm Properties and Dundon Capital Partners. —Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

Want a dose of local polo minus the sunshine and horses? —Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

Noun

Porzingis, who received a tribute video and a standing ovation between quarters, was the only Warriors starter to post a positive plus/minus in the first half (plus-1). —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026

Yet the Bucks have been minus-16, minus-24, plus-23, minus-12, minus-eight and plus-17 in those six games. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The Adebayo/Ware pairing was a minus 10 in the first half on Friday but was on the floor together during the decisive 11-2 run in the fourth and for much of the quarter. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026

As things stand with a dozen matches still to play, Wednesday are on course to finish the season with a minus points total, seven of the 18 points deducted for breaches of financial rules last autumn yet to be reclaimed by a team who have scored just twice since Boxing Day. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English, from Latin minus, adverb, less, from neuter of minor smaller — more at minor

First Known Use

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing minus

• minus sign
• on the minus side
• plus/minus sign
• plus or minus

Rhymes for minus

• coyness
• dryness
• highness
• linus
• pinus
• shyness
• sinus
• busyness
• equinus

Kids 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 noun

1

: a negative quantity

2

: a negative quality

especially : disadvantage entry 1 sense 2b

minus

3 of 3 adjective

1

: mathematically negative

4 plus minus 3

2

: falling low in a specified range

a grade of C minus

Medical Definition

minus

adjective

mi·​nus ˈmī-nəs 

: relating to or being one of the two mating types required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plants (as a fungus) compare plus