Majority: Definition, Common Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：the larger part (majority)

majority 🔊

/məˈdʒɒr.ə.ti/

most of the people or things in a group; the larger part.

Majority definition illustrated with a bar chart showing 65% vs 35% election results

the larger part 🔊

➕

/ðə ˈlɑː.dʒər pɑːt/

Refers to more than half of the total number in a countable group; the greater portion.

📁 Category：Countries & Government 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'maior' (greater) + '-itas' (noun suffix forming quality or state).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a mayor elected by the MAJORITY of the city. 'Major' + 'city' sounds like majority - the biggest part.

📖 Example

In the election, the majority of voters supported her plan to build a new library for the community. 🔊 In the election, the larger part of the voters supported her plan to build a new library for the community.

🔗 Collocations

majority of – used to specify the group in which the larger part exists

overwhelming majority – a very large majority, often implying near consensus

absolute majority – more than half of all possible members or votes

🔄 Synonyms

bulk (n.) – the larger part or majority of something, often implying size or mass

most (n.) – the greatest amount or number; nearly all

preponderance (n.) – the quality of being greater in number, quantity, or importance

🚫 Antonyms

minority (n.) – the smaller number or part, especially less than half

few (n.) – a small number of people or things

🌱 Derivatives

major (adj.) – greater in size, extent, or importance

majoritarian (adj.) – relating to or supporting the principle of majority rule

📖 Cultural Story

Originally a legal term from Medieval Latin 'majoritas', denoting the age of legal adulthood. It later evolved to describe the greater number in political decisions, becoming central to democratic principles like 'majority rule'.