majority
Definitions
More than half of a group, total, or number; the greater part.
多数；过半数；大部分。
The amount by which the votes for the winning side exceed those for the next; a winning margin.
（选举中的）多数票；领先票数。
The age at which a person is legally an adult.
（法定）成年。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmajor (greater) + -ity (state of being) = 'the state of being the greater part.' If one part of a group is greater than the rest combined, it's the majority — more than half. The legal sense ('majority' = adulthood) comes from the same root via 'the greater age,' the point where you're fully grown.
Root maj still carries 25 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.the vast majority绝大多数
- 2.an overwhelming majority压倒性多数
- 3.a clear majority明显多数
- 4.majority of……的大多数
- 5.majority vote多数表决
Example Sentences
- 1.
The vast majority of students passed the exam.
- 2.
The party won a clear majority in parliament.
- 3.
He inherited the estate when he reached his majority.
Easily Confused
majority vs most — both mean 'more than half,' but majority is a countable noun (the majority of voters, a small majority) while most is a determiner used directly before a noun (most voters). Say 'the majority of people' or 'most people,' not 'the most of people.'