minus Meaning & Definition
What Does Minus Mean?
As a preposition, minus means Made less or reduced by. It is also used to mean Without; deprived of. As a noun, it means The minus sign (−). As an adjective, it means Being a negative quantity; pertaining to a deficit or reduction.
Minus in Brief
| Part of speech | preposition, noun, adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈmaɪ.nəs// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | harmful, disadvantageous and subtraction |
| Antonyms | plus, plus sign and positive |
| Plural | minuses |
| Verb forms | minuses, minusing, minused |
Minus Definition (Preposition)
- Made less or reduced by .
Seven minus two is five.
- Without; deprived of.
I walked out minus my coat.
Minus as a Noun
- The minus sign (−).
- A negative quantity.
- A downside or disadvantage.
Minus as an Adjective
- Being a negative quantity; pertaining to a deficit or reduction.
a minus number
- That is below zero by (a specified amount) on a scale.
minus seven degrees
- Worse off than before; out of pocket.
- Ranking just below (a designated rating).
He got a grade of B minus for his essay.
Minus as a Verb
- To subtract.
Preposition
- Made less or reduced by (followed by an expression of number or quantity).
seven minus two is five
Synonyms of Minus
Minus synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Minus
Minus in a Sentence
Seven minus two is five.
I walked out minus my coat.
a minus number
minus seven degrees
He got a grade of B minus for his essay.
seven minus two is five
Word Forms & Grammar
minus
minus (plural minuses or minusses)
minus (not comparable)
minus (third-person singular simple present minuses or minusses, present participle minusing or minussing, simple past and past participle minused or minussed)
Words That Rhyme With Minus
Origin of Minus
From Middle English mynus, from Latin minus, neuter form of minor, comparative form of parvus (“small, little”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey- (“few, small”).
Minus Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of minus is //ˈmaɪ.nəs//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Minus
Is minus a preposition or a noun?
Minus is mainly used as a preposition, but it can also be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb.
What is another word for minus?
Close synonyms of minus are harmful, disadvantageous and subtraction. See the full list of minus synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of minus?
The plural of minus is minuses.
What is the past tense of minus?
The past tense of minus is minused. The present participle is minusing.