plus

1 of 4

adjective

ˈpləs 

1

: algebraically positive

2

: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is anticipated

3

a

: falling high in a specified range

a grade of C plus

b

: greater than that specified

c

: possessing a specified quality to a high degree

4

: electrically positive

5

: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plantlike organisms (such as a fungus)

plus

2 of 4

noun

plural pluses ˈplə-səz  also plusses

1

: plus sign

2

: an added quantity

3

: a positive factor or quality

4

: surplus

plus

3 of 4

preposition

1

: increased by : with the addition of

four plus five

principal plus interest

2

: besides

—used chiefly in speech and casual writing

plus all this, as a sedative it has no equal

—Groucho Marx

plus

4 of 4

conjunction

1

: and

eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pie

—Garrison Keillor

2

: in addition to which

it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells good

—Nikki Giovanni

Using Plus as a Conjunction: Usage Guide

The preposition plus has long been used with a meaning equivalent to and (as in "two plus two"); people have come to use plus as a conjunction much like and. Sense 2 is considered to be an adverb by some. It is used chiefly in speech and in informal writing.

Synonyms

Noun

• accretion
• accrual
• addendum
• addition
• augmentation
• boost
• expansion
• gain
• increase
• increment
• more
• proliferation
• raise
• rise
• step-up
• supplement
• uptick

Examples of plus in a Sentence

Noun

The apartment isn't perfect, but the fact that it has new appliances is a plus.

The job doesn't pay well, but the convenient hours are a definite plus.

Preposition

The hotel has two restaurants, plus a bar and a swimming pool.

Conjunction

He works a full-time job during the day, plus he goes to school at night.

I enjoy gardening, plus it's good exercise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The airline will allow pets to travel with their owners as their plus ones in the aircraft cabin, rather than in crates in the cargo hold. —Chantelle Lee, TIME, 23 May 2024

This last group of voters is one of the most pro-Trump in the state, giving him a plus 22 rating. —Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024

Noun

Health care is another plus, with a variety of hospitals nearby, including the Mayo Clinic. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2024

The bottom of the swimsuit provides full coverage which is always a plus, while the criss-cross top provides ample support. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2024

Preposition

Much of the decor in its new home highlights the brand’s century plus existence, including a few pop culture highlights. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024

Earlier last month, armed gangs attacked Haiti’s National Penitentiary, releasing nearly 4,000 inmates, and the Croix-des-Bouquets Civil prison, releasing an additional 1,000 plus inmates. —Ashley Carnahan, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

Conjunction

Plus, kids receive a free 4-inch-by-6-inch photo download of themselves with their catch. —Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez, The Know, 9 June 2017

A total of 29 states plus the nation’s capital have legal medical cannabis. —Luis Gómez Romero, The Cannabist, 18 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, adverb, more, from neuter of plur-, plus, adjective; akin to Greek pleion more, Latin plenus full — more at full

First Known Use

Adjective

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

circa 1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plus

• cost-plus
• eleven-plus
• ne plus ultra
• on the plus side
• plus fours
• plus/minus sign
• plus-one
• plus or minus
• plus sign
• plus-size
• plus-sized

Kids Definition

plus

1 of 3 adjective

ˈpləs 

1

: mathematically positive

a plus quantity

2

: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is expected

now she is plus a kitten

3

: falling high in a certain range

a grade of C plus

4

: electrically positive

plus

2 of 3 noun

plural pluses ˈpləs-əz  also plusses

1

: an added quantity

2

: something that is an advantage

that the machine operated quietly was a plus

plus

3 of 3 preposition

: increased by : with the addition of

4 plus 5 is 9

Medical Definition

plus

adjective

ˈpləs 

: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plants (as a fungus) compare minus