as in approximately
close to but not exactly
I have plus or minus five dollars in change
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Recent Examples of plus or minus
The margin of error was plus or minus 3%, with a 95% confidence interval.
—
Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 9 Feb. 2023
The Post-ABC poll was conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 1, 2023, among a random national sample of 1,003 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the full sample and a larger error margin among subgroups.
—Scott Clement, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
The Post-ABC poll was conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 1, 2023, among a random national sample of 1,003 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the full sample and a larger error margin among subgroups.
—Scott Clement, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
For the third quarter, the company guided for revenue of $2 billion, plus or minus $150 million.
—Kathryn Hardison, WSJ, 26 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for plus or minus
Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 9 Feb. 2023
The Post-ABC poll was conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 1, 2023, among a random national sample of 1,003 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the full sample and a larger error margin among subgroups.
—Scott Clement, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
The Post-ABC poll was conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 1, 2023, among a random national sample of 1,003 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the full sample and a larger error margin among subgroups.
—Scott Clement, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
For the third quarter, the company guided for revenue of $2 billion, plus or minus $150 million.
—Kathryn Hardison, WSJ, 26 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for plus or minus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plus or minus
Adverb
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Block Island, Rhode Island An 80- to 90-minute ferry ride from New London, Connecticut, or Newport, Rhode Island, this approximately 7,000-acre island is the perfect antidote to the more congested Massachusetts destination Nantucket.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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That courier was carrying a case containing approximately $67,000 when the two men confronted him in the parking lot, then took the cash and fled in a nearby vehicle.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
While Daly City is widely known for having the highest concentration of Filipinos in the region, the broader San Jose metropolitan area boasts a thriving community of about 109,000 Filipino Americans, according to Pew Research data.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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Iran's blockade of the strait, which carried about 20% of the world's oil supply before the war, has throttled traffic through the critical oil shipping channel, driving up fuel prices and threatening the global economy.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adverb
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But roughly nine miles north, fans such as Jose Santiago and Ivan Gonzalez enjoyed the match at a fraction of the price.—
Joaquin Ruiz,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
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Before the war, roughly 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas supply passed through the channel.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adverb
-
The result has been a group of ridiculously talented dancers with a never-say-quit attitude and a lot of stuff to say — and doing it elegantly.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
And Xi’s remarks this time around were also missing a key phrase.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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In fourth place, Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos remains a favorite for celebrities seeking privacy, while Tulum rounds out the top five, and stands out as one of the more affordable luxury beach destinations, with five-star hotels averaging around $240 per night.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plus or minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plus%20or%20minus. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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