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Majority vs Substantial - What's the difference?

majority | substantial |

As nouns the difference between majority and substantial

is that majority is more than half (50%) of some group while substantial is anything having substance; an essential part.

As an adjective substantial is

having to substance; actually existing; real; as, substantial life.

majority

Noun

(majorities)
  • More than half (50%) of some group
  • The majority agreed that the new proposal was the best.
    Those opposing the building plans were in the majority , so the building project was canceled.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1920, title=, author=Champ Clark
  • , passage=But in 1912 the American people gave the Democrats another opportunity, and under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson we swept the country from sea to sea. At the end of that historic contest we had the Presidency, the Senate by a working majority, and the House by an overwhelming majority.}}
  • The difference between the winning vote and the rest of the votes
  • The winner with 53% had a 6% majority over the loser with 47%.
  • (dated) Legal adulthood
  • By the time I reached my majority , I had already been around the world twice.
  • (UK) The office held by a member of the armed forces in the rank of major
  • On receiving the news of his promotion, Charles Snodgrass said he was delighted to be entering his majority .
  • Ancestors; ancestry.
  • Usage notes

    * Majority in the sense of "more than half" is used with countable nouns only; for example, "The majority of the members of the committee were in favour of the motion." It is incorrect to use with it uncountable nouns, as in "The majority of the world is covered with water." In the latter case, it is preferable to use expressions such as "the larger part of" or "most of" instead of the "the majority of",

    Antonyms

    * (more than half) minority

    Derived terms

    * by a majority * dictatorship of the majority * double majority * majority leader * majority rule * silent majority * simple majority * supermajority * tyranny of the majority

    See also

    * most

    substantial

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having to substance; actually existing; real; as, substantial life.
  • Not seeming or imaginary; not illusive; real; solid; true; veritable.
  • * "to do some substantial good, is the compensation for much incidental imperfection" - Cardinal Newman, The Rise and Progress of Universities
  • Corporeal; material; firm.
  • Having good substance; strong; stout; solid; firm; as, substantial cloth; a substantial fence or wall.
  • possessed of goods or an estate; moderately wealthy; responsible; as, a substantial freeholder.
  • Large in size, quantity, or value; as, a substantial amount of money; vast
  • Most important; essential.
  • Ample or full.
  • A substantial amount of people in this buliding
  • Significantly great.
  • Derived terms

    * consubstantial * insubstantial * substantiality * substantially * substantialness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything having substance; an essential part.