minus

Meanings

1. 1preposition

   Used to show that one number or amount is taken away from another.

   Grammar: Used between two numbers or amounts: 'Ten minus four is six.' It does not take an object in the usual way; it links two quantities.

   Patterns

   • number minus number
   • amount minus amount

   Twenty minus five equals fifteen.

   If you have $50 and spend $30, you have $50 minus $30, which is $20.

   The temperature was 5 degrees minus 2, so it felt like 3 degrees.

2. 2prepositioninformal

   Not having a particular thing or person; without.

   Grammar: Used before a noun to mean 'without': 'The team played minus its captain.' It is more informal than 'without.'

   Patterns

   • minus someone
   • minus something

   The team played minus its captain, who was injured.

   We arrived at the party minus our gifts because we left them in the car.

   The final report was published minus the appendix.

3. 3adjectivenot comparable

   Less than zero; negative.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a number: 'minus ten degrees' or 'a minus score.' It is not used with 'more' or 'most.'

   Patterns

   • minus number
   • minus degree
   • minus sign

   The temperature dropped to minus ten overnight.

   In math, a minus number is written with a minus sign in front of it.

   His bank account went into minus figures after the unexpected bill.

4. 4nouncountable

   A disadvantage or negative quality.

   Grammar: Countable: 'one minus,' 'several minuses.' Often used in the phrase 'plus and minus' or 'pros and cons.'

   Patterns

   • a minus
   • the minuses
   • plus and minus

   The only minus of the apartment is that it's far from the station.

   We discussed the pluses and minuses of moving to a new city.

   One big minus is the cost; everything else is perfect.

Word forms

Common combinations

minus sign

Don't forget to put a minus sign before the number.

minus ten degrees

It was minus ten degrees outside, so we stayed indoors.

plus or minus

The estimate is 100, plus or minus 10.

minus point

Losing that game was a minus point for the team.

go minus

My phone battery went minus after I forgot to charge it.

Synonyms and how they differ

less

Use 'less' when comparing amounts ('five less than ten'); 'minus' is used in arithmetic and before numbers.

without

'Without' is the standard preposition for lacking something; 'minus' is more informal and often used in sports or news.

negative

'Negative' describes a number below zero or a bad quality; 'minus' is the symbol or word used in calculations.

Opposites

Word family

minuscule adjective

Extremely small; not related in meaning but sometimes confused in spelling.

Commonly confused: minus or minibus? minus or minute?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “minus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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