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
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Realtime temperatures will hit a low of 2 degrees below zero in Denver at around 3 a.m. Thursday, which could feel as cold as minus 14, forecasters said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
Another slight minus is that this machine doesn’t beep or do anything other than shut off the Seal light when it’s done.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 27 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 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Preposition
What to Know The latest Economist/YouGov poll showed that a majority of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Trump (52 percent), while 46 percent hold a positive view of him, giving the president a net favorable score of minus 6.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Realtime temperatures will hit a low of 2 degrees below zero in Denver at around 3 a.m. Thursday, which could feel as cold as minus 14, forecasters said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Most of those have come in blowouts, but the 6-foot-9 wing posted a positive plus/minus in each of his last eight appearances.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
Another slight minus is that this machine doesn’t beep or do anything other than shut off the Seal light when it’s done.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 27 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 19 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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