What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Plurality vs Majority - What's the difference?

plurality | majority |

Plurality is a related term of majority.


As nouns the difference between plurality and majority

is that plurality is (uncountable) the state of being plural while majority is more than half (50%) of some group.

plurality

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The state of being plural.
  • (ecclesiastical) The holding of multiple benefices.
  • * 1644 , (John Milton), Aeropagitica :
    • It was the complaint and lamentation of Prelats, upon every least breath of a motion to remove pluralities , and distribute more equally Church revennu's, that then all learning would be for ever dasht and discourag'd.
  • (countable) A state of being numerous.
  • (countable) A number or part of a whole which is greater than any other number or part, but not necessarily a majority.
  • (countable) A number of votes for a single candidate or position which is greater than the number of votes gained by any other single candidate or position voted for, but which is less than a majority of valid votes cast.
  • * 1977 September 8, "Crime against clarity", editorial, , page 14 [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=818zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TiMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1343,2352985]:
    • To repeal the tax (Question I), a 50 per cent majority vote is required. To keep the tax in its 1976 form (Question III), only a plurality of votes is required.
  • (countable) A margin by which a number exceeds another number, especially of votes.
  • * 1948 December 10, "President Race Ignored by 683,382 Voters", , page A-2 [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=acQcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ulcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6598,2141245]:
    • Truman's total vote was 24,104,836. Dewey received 21,969,500;. Truman won by a plurality of 2,135,336, but it was the first time since 1916 that a winner has failed to capture a majority of all votes cast.
  • (countable) A group of many entities: a large number.
    • A plurality of ideas were put forth at the meeting, most of which were rejected out of hand.
  • (countable) A group composed of more than one entity.
  • * 1989 , United States Patent 5065364, abstract:
    • The array is organized into a plurality of vertical (column) blocks.
  • (of spouses) polygamy.

    • Synonyms

    * (state of being numerous) multiplicity * relative majority, simple majority * (ecclesiastical) pluralism

    Antonyms

    * singularity * absolute majority

    majority

    English

    (wikipedia 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

    Related terms

    * major * plurality

    See also

    * most