majority Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
    bulk.
    • the majority of his customers prefer it
    • the bulk of the work is finished
  2. noun (elections) more than half of the votes
    absolute majority.
  3. noun the age at which persons are considered competent to manage their own affairs
    legal age.

WordNet

Ma*jor"i*ty noun
Etymology
F. majorité. See Major.
Wordforms
plural Majorities
Definitions
  1. The quality or condition of being major or greater; superiority. Specifically: (a) The military rank of a major. (b) The condition of being of full age, or authorized by law to manage one's own affairs.
  2. The greater number; more than half; as, a majority of mankind; a majority of the votes cast.
  3. Cf. L. majores. Ancestors; ancestry. Obs.
  4. The amount or number by which one aggregate exceeds all other aggregates with which it is contrasted; especially, the number by which the votes for a successful candidate exceed those for all other candidates; as, he is elected by a majority of five hundred votes. See Plurality.

Webster 1913