plus

1 of 4

adjective

ˈpləs 

1

: algebraically positive

2

: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is anticipated

3

a

: falling high in a specified range

a grade of C plus

b

: greater than that specified

c

: possessing a specified quality to a high degree

4

: electrically positive

5

: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plantlike organisms (such as a fungus)

plus

2 of 4

noun

plural pluses ˈplə-səz  also plusses

1

: plus sign

2

: an added quantity

3

: a positive factor or quality

The dishwasher's sanitize mode is a plus.

4

: surplus

plus

3 of 4

preposition

1

: increased by : with the addition of

four plus five

principal plus interest

2

: besides

—used chiefly in speech and casual writing

Plus all this, as a sedative it has no equal.

—Groucho Marx

plus

4 of 4

conjunction

1

: and

… eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pie.

—Garrison Keillor

2

: in addition to which

… it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells good …

—Nikki Giovanni

Using Plus as a Conjunction: Usage Guide

The preposition plus has long been used with a meaning equivalent to and (as in "two plus two"); people have come to use plus as a conjunction much like and. Sense 2 is considered to be an adverb by some. It is used chiefly in speech and in informal writing.

Synonyms of plus

Noun

• increase
• addition
• gain
• boost

Examples of plus in a Sentence

Noun

The apartment isn't perfect, but the fact that it has new appliances is a plus.

The job doesn't pay well, but the convenient hours are a definite plus.

Preposition

The hotel has two restaurants, plus a bar and a swimming pool.

Conjunction

He works a full-time job during the day, plus he goes to school at night.

I enjoy gardening, plus it's good exercise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

On the plus side, both were in attendance at Thursday’s practice, looking to again become top-tier defenders for the Bears in 2026. —Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Hayes played 14 minutes, finished with five points and had a plus-minus rating of minus-16. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 31 May 2026

Noun

Patterns range from stripes to polka-dots to florals, and the swim dress is available in sizes XS to 22 plus. —Claire West, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026

In the coming years, Costco will increase its openings to 30-plus per year, globally. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 May 2026

Preposition

Chase Total Checking® Minimum balance to open $0 Free ATM network With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs. —Ryley Amond, CNBC, 1 May 2026

Also on the drink menu are wine, beer, and sake plus mocktails. —Richard Guzman, Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026

Conjunction

Plus, kids receive a free 4-inch-by-6-inch photo download of themselves with their catch. —Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez, The Know, 9 June 2017

A total of 29 states plus the nation’s capital have legal medical cannabis. —Luis Gómez Romero, The Cannabist, 18 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, adverb, more, from neuter of plur-, plus, adjective; akin to Greek pleion more, Latin plenus full — more at full

First Known Use

Adjective

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

circa 1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plus

• cost-plus
• eleven-plus
• ne plus ultra
• on the plus side
• plus fours
• plus/minus sign
• plus-one
• plus or minus
• plus sign
• plus-size
• plus-sized

Rhymes for plus

• bus
• buss
• cuss
• fuss
• glace
• huss
• pus
• russ
• sus
• suss
• thus
• truss

Kids Definition

plus

1 of 3 adjective

ˈpləs 

1

: mathematically positive

a plus quantity

2

: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is expected

now she is plus a kitten

3

: falling high in a certain range

a grade of C plus

4

: electrically positive

plus

2 of 3 noun

plural pluses ˈpləs-əz  also plusses

1

: an added quantity

2

: something that is an advantage

that the machine operated quietly was a plus

plus

3 of 3 preposition

: increased by : with the addition of

4 plus 5 is 9

Medical Definition

plus

adjective

ˈpləs 

: 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 (as a fungus) compare minus