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
-
The journey is a true adventure that includes moderate to challenging hikes, but the reward is a wild, unspoiled jungle with magnificent wildlife encounters—Osa Peninsula hosts approximately 50% of all of the species found in Costa Rica.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Boise State is nearing completion of its $70 million project, which will seat approximately 1,600 and feature amenities for student-athletes, such as a nutrition center and a lounge.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Idaho adults pay about $145 for a sportsman’s package that includes fishing and hunting licenses and a variety of tags for species including deer, elk, bear, mountain lion and wolf.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Other considerations include matching the frame to your mattress’s thickness and leaving about 24 inches of walking space around the bed.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents about 37,000 teachers, and SEIU Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 school support staff, have already set April 14 as a potential strike date if contract agreements are not reached with the district.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
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But the memo indicates homelessness spending might not be as vulnerable to cuts as other programs because the city now has roughly $33 million in hotel tax revenue to spend each year on homelessness.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
According to Turner, Kaiko and her littermates lived outdoors in a pen from birth until she was rescued at around nine months old.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years since its mission began in 1978, the force has lost around 340 members.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plus or minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plus%20or%20minus. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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