minus

American  

[mahy-nuhs] / ˈmaɪ nəs /

preposition

1. less by the subtraction of; decreased by.

   Ten minus six is four.

2. lacking or without.

   a book minus its title page.

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adjective

1. involving or noting subtraction.

2. algebraically negative.

   a minus quantity.

3. less than; just below in quality.

   to get a C minus on a test.

4. Informal. having negative qualities or characteristics; inferior.

5. Mycology. (in heterothallic fungi) designating, in the absence of morphological differentiation, one of the two strains of mycelia that unite in the sexual process.

noun

1. minus sign.

2. a minus quantity.

3. a deficiency or loss.

4. Informal. a person or thing with no apparent abilities, usefulness, etc..

   The last applicant was a definite minus.

minus British  

/ ˈmaɪnəs /

preposition

1. reduced by the subtraction of

   four minus two (written 4 – 2)

2. informal deprived of; lacking

   minus the trimmings, that hat would be ordinary

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adjective

1. 1. indicating or involving subtraction

      a minus sign

   2. Also: negative.  having a value or designating a quantity less than zero

      a minus number

2. on the negative part of a scale or coordinate axis

   a value of minus 40°C

3. involving a disadvantage, harm, etc

   a minus factor

4. (postpositive) education slightly below the standard of a particular grade

   he received a B minus for his essay

5. botany designating the strain of a fungus that can only undergo sexual reproduction with a plus strain

6. denoting a negative electric charge

noun

1. short for minus sign

2. a negative quantity

3. a disadvantage, loss, or deficit

4. informal something detrimental or negative

Etymology

Origin of minus

1300–50; Middle English < Latin, neuter of minor less; minor

Example Sentences

Management guided for profit of $2.15 a share, plus or minus 15 cents, and sales growth of about 12%, plus or minus 5%.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Consumer confidence fell two points to minus 21 in March, the lowest point since April last year, according to research group GfK’s barometer, published Friday with the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The GfK consumer confidence index fell two points to minus 21 this month, while expectations for the general economic situation over the next year dropped six points to minus 37.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

LNG is natural gas chilled to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a liquid that can be shipped.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He was standing six metres away, in the same clothes he’d worn on the day at the London Eye, minus the jacket, talking into a two-way radio.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd