as in approximately
close to but not exactly
I have plus or minus five dollars in change
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
Detectives recovered nearly two pounds of cocaine and approximately $500,000.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The news arrived approximately 24 hours before the Panthers’ first home playoff game in a decade.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Just about 1% of people 13 and older across the country identify as transgender, according to estimates from the Williams Institute.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The aircraft currently offers an endurance of about one hour, providing a range of 60 to 100 miles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Including parking, amenities, and ground-floor retail, the $140 million structure spans roughly 420,000 square feet.—
Mark Dee
January 13,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while answering a question during the outdoor forum attended by roughly 3,000 people.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Keep Leaves Dust-Free Plants can’t photosynthesize effectively if their leaves are covered in dirt and dust, which is all too common in winter when fireplaces and heating units move dust around.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
My child attended daycare and summer programs at Pillsbury United Communities center just four blocks away, where a multiracial cohort of kids happily play through the winter, swishing around in bulky jackets and snow pants, bouncing towards their parents.—
Bao Phi,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plus or minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plus%20or%20minus. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
