mi·nus
ˈmī-nəs 
1
: algebraically negative
a minus quantity
minus ten degrees
2
: having a negative quality
3
: 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 (such as a fungus)
4
: falling low in a specified range
B minus
Examples of minus in a Sentence
Preposition
He left the restaurant minus his hat.
a fruit that looks like a peach, minus the fuzz
Noun
She decided that the pluses of owning a home outweighed the minuses.
Some employers see a lack of experience as a real minus.
Put the minus to the left of the number.
Recent Examples on the Web
Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
In Minnesota, wind chills as low as minus 40 were possible in Crow Wing, Pine, South Aitkin, and Cass Counties.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Tuesday morning, a low of minus 7 is expected at O’Hare.
—Peter Breen, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
The defeat means the Red Devils slip to 15th in the Premier League table, with a minus seven goal difference.
—Ben Church, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minus
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Preposition
Morning temperatures registered at O’Hare International Airport were mostly cloudy at 5 degrees with a wind chill of minus 15.
—Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
In Minnesota, wind chills as low as minus 40 were possible in Crow Wing, Pine, South Aitkin, and Cass Counties.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
Klingberg has finished with a double-digit minus rating in every season from 2019-20 to 2022-23.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Tuesday morning, a low of minus 7 is expected at O’Hare.
—Peter Breen, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
In 1994, a two year old girl in Saskatchewan wandered out of her house and into a minus 40 degree night.
—Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
The defeat means the Red Devils slip to 15th in the Premier League table, with a minus seven goal difference.
—Ben Church, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minus
Cite this Entry
“Minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minus. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minus
1 of 3 preposition
mi·nus
ˈmī-nəs
1
: with the subtraction of : less
7 minus 4 is 3
2
: without entry 1 sense 3a
minus his hat
minus
2 of 3 noun1
: a negative quantity
2
: a negative quality
especially
: disadvantage entry 1 sense 2b
minus
3 of 3 adjective1
: mathematically negative
4 plus minus 3
2
: falling low in a specified range
a grade of C minus
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