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
Synonyms
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
Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Overnight lows are expected to reach minus 15 to minus 20 across metro Denver, the Interstate 25 Corridor and the Eastern Plains, forecasters said in the outlook.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025
John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Commanders-Eagles Guess which team won and covered the spread despite 5 turnovers and a minus (-3) turnover differential?
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the cold spell brought Chicago's air temperature down to a bone-chilling minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit on January 21.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for minus 
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Preposition
Its temperature is now uniform at minus 454 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 270 degrees Celsius).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Overnight lows are expected to reach minus 15 to minus 20 across metro Denver, the Interstate 25 Corridor and the Eastern Plains, forecasters said in the outlook.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
Of the team’s top six scorers — Point, Guentzel, Kucherov, Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul — only Hagel does not have a negative plus/minus ratio in the previous 17 games entering Saturday.
—John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Commanders-Eagles Guess which team won and covered the spread despite 5 turnovers and a minus (-3) turnover differential?
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The company could be growing at 50% with a minus 10% profit margin, or at 30% with 10% profit margin.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the cold spell brought Chicago's air temperature down to a bone-chilling minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit on January 21.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for minus
Dictionary Entries Near minus
Cite this Entry
“Minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minus. Accessed 11 Feb. 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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