the greater part or number; the number larger than half the total (opposed to minority): the majority of the population.
a number of voters or votes, jurors, or others in agreement, constituting more than half of the total number.
the amount by which the greater number, as of votes, surpasses the remainder (distinguished from plurality).
the party or faction with the majority vote: The Democratic Party is the majority.
the state or time of being of full legal age: to attain one's majority.
the military rank or office of a major.
Idioms for majority
join the (great) majority, to die.
Compare majority-minority.
Origin of majority
From the Medieval Latin word majōritās, dating back to 1545–55. See major, -ity
synonym study for majority
3. Majority,plurality, in the context of an election, poll, or other voting situation resulting in a statistically based statement, both denote an amount or number larger than some other. In situations in which only two candidates, options, or positions are concerned, the terms are interchangeable, though majority is by far the more commonly used: She beat her opponent by a large majority. The proposal received a large plurality of “Yes” votes. When three or more choices are available, however, a distinction is made between majority and plurality. A majority, then, consists of more than one-half of all the votes cast, while a plurality is merely the number of votes one candidate receives in excess of the votes for the candidate with the next largest number. Thus, in an election in which three candidates receive respectively 500, 300, and 200 votes, the first candidate has a plurality of 200 votes, but not a majority of all the votes cast. If the three candidates receive 600, 300, and 100 votes, the first has a majority of 100 votes (that is 100 votes more than one-half the total of 1000 cast) and a plurality of 300 votes over the nearest opponent.
OTHER WORDS FROM majority
non·ma·jor·i·ty,noun,pluralnon·ma·jor·i·ties.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH majority
majority , plurality (see synonym study at the current entry)
Words nearby majority
major general, major histocompatibility complex, major hysteria, majoritarian, majoritarianism, majority, majority carrier, majority leader, majority-minority, major key, major league
The majority of CU Boulder cases come from off-campus students.
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Busting the filibuster and using a newly unleashed majority to uncork several major changes to the structure of American politics would be a shocking turn of events.
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Since mid-June, a majority of the new coronavirus deaths each day have occurred in red states.
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Polls conducted in the past two months show a majority of Americans worry development of the vaccine is being rushed and a third wouldn’t get inoculated.
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The truth is that the majority of gang members never commit a gang-related crime in their life.
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Just a week before the start of a new Congress, the new House majority whip is fighting for his political life.
No. 3 Republican Admits Talking to White Supremacist Conference|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The majority of these stories are making their first appearance online.
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The majority of the questions they asked were related to my work and activities.
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They embraced the notion of a growing America, whose economy could be expanded for the benefit of the majority.
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In that case the device was to put the genius in opposition to a majority of established cultural tastes and codes.
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It appears that there is a powerful moral effect that follows this loss, as might, in the majority, be anticipated.
History of Circumcision from the Earliest Times to the Present|Peter Charles Remondino
I know not by what majority, for you did not read the record; I know not by whose votes; but that rule was rejected.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2)|Thomas Hart Benton
The majority accordingly converted, the obstinate were extirpated.
There is very little intelligent design in the majority of marriages; but they are none the worse for that.
Chance|Joseph Conrad
Some nobles made terms whereby they were allowed to retain their estates, but the majority of them opposed the conquerors.
A History of Spain|Charles E. Chapman
British Dictionary definitions for majority
majority
/ (məˈdʒɒrɪtɪ) /
nounplural-ties
the greater number or part of somethingthe majority of the constituents
(in an election) the number of votes or seats by which the strongest party or candidate beats the combined opposition or the runner-upSee relative majority, absolute majority
the largest party or group that votes together in a legislative or deliberative assembly
the time of reaching or state of having reached full legal age, when a person is held competent to manage his own affairs, exercise civil rights and duties, etc
the rank, office, or commission of major
euphemisticthe dead (esp in the phrases join the majority, goorpass over to the majority)
obsoletethe quality or state of being greater; superiority
(modifier)of, involving, or being a majoritya majority decision; a majority verdict
in the majorityforming or part of the greater number of something
Word Origin for majority
C16: from Medieval Latin mājoritās, from major (adj)
usage for majority
The majority of can only refer to a number of things or people. When talking about an amount, most of should be used: most of (not the majority of) the harvest was saved
“Majority” vs. “Plurality”: What Their Differences Mean For This ElectionWhen it comes to elections, do you need a majority or plurality of the vote to win? It helps to remember what each term means first.
READ MORE
Words related to majority
bulk, superiority, preponderance, mass, more, max, prime, estate, maturity, seniority, manhood, womanhood, lion's share, age of consent, prime of life