majority
majority — noun
1. the portion of a group that makes up over fifty percent of its total members or
the portion of a group that makes up over fifty percent of its total members or items.
The majority of students in Rachel's class voted for the Friday field trip.
the majority of + plural noun (students)
A majority of voters supported the new public transport plan.
The proposal was rejected by a large majority of committee members.
Zuri spent the majority of her winter break helping at the local animal shelter.
Naoko checked the survey and found that the majority of her coworkers wanted to work from home on Fridays.
- most
more common in everyday speech; not restricted to countable groups
- bulk
more formal; often used for physical quantities or the main portion of something
- greater part
less formal, interchangeable with 'majority' in many contexts
- minority
the smaller part of a group, making up less than half
文法句型
the majority of + plural noun
用法筆記
The phrase 'the majority of' is followed by a plural noun but can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the group is seen as a single unit or as individuals. In practice, a plural verb is common in British English when the noun is plural: 'the majority of students are…'
常見錯誤
2. the vote-count difference between the winner and the second-place candidate in a
the vote-count difference between the winner and the second-place candidate in an election or vote.
Andrew won the election with a majority of over two thousand votes.
with a majority of [number] votes
The ruling party's majority in parliament has shrunk to just twelve seats.
possessive: [party]'s majority in [body]
A slim majority of five votes decided the outcome of the leadership contest.
The candidate failed to secure an absolute majority in the first round of voting.
Analysts predicted the Liberal Party would win a comfortable majority in the coming election.
文法句型
a + adjective + majority + of + number
[party]'s + majority
用法筆記
When used for the margin of victory, 'majority' is often modified by an adjective describing the size: 'slim majority', 'comfortable majority', 'landslide majority'. In some voting systems, 'absolute majority' means more than half of all eligible votes, while 'simple majority' means more than half of the votes actually cast.
常見錯誤
3. the legally recognised point in life when a person is considered an adult, with
the legally recognised point in life when a person is considered an adult, with full rights and duties such as voting and signing contracts.
Tuan reached the age of majority on his eighteenth birthday.
reached the age of majority
In Taiwan, the age of majority is twenty, not eighteen.
Until you reach the age of majority, your parents must sign legal papers for you.
Romi's younger sister cannot open a bank account yet, as she has not reached majority.
Bilal reached the age of majority at eighteen in Morocco, while Inês had to wait until twenty-one in Portugal.
- legal age
more general term for any age set by law for a specific right, not just adulthood
- adulthood
everyday word for the state of being an adult
- coming of age
used both legally and culturally for the transition to adulthood
- minority
the legal status of being under the age of majority
文法句型
the age of majority
reach (the age of) majority
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the fixed phrases 'age of majority' or 'reach majority'. It is a formal legal term. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'turn eighteen' or 'become an adult'. The opposite legal status is 'minority' (the condition of being a minor).