more or less

adverb

1
: to a varying or undetermined extent or degree : somewhat
they were more or less willing to help
2
: with small variations : approximately
contains 16 acres more or less

Examples of more or less in a Sentence

the lot is 16 acres more or less most couples in the survey said that they were more or less happy in their marriage
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The aesthetic has more or less defined the mouse for the better part of a decade. PC Magazine, 19 May 2025 Each question, more or less, gets answered in our roundup of three new series. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 May 2025 That average has remained more or less the same since May of last year, with the typical month-over-month changes registering at less than a fraction of a cent. Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 The law was intended to address segregation in public schools by requiring school systems to report racial demographics of each school to the state Board of Education and note when a school’s number of minority students is substantially more or less than the system-wide average. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for more or less

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of more or less was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“More or less.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/more%20or%20less. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

more or less

adverb
1
: to a varying or uncertain degree : somewhat
they were more or less willing to help
2
: with small variations : approximately
contains 16 acres more or less
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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