minus sign
noun
: a sign − used in mathematics to indicate subtraction (as in 8−6=2) or a negative quantity (as in −10°)
called also negative sign
Examples of minus sign in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Photograph: Dukas/Getty Images But a minus sign may not be the only thing that disappears.
—
Shalma Wegsman, Wired News, 25 May 2025
Finally, the Arabella team pinpointed the problem—a hastily mistyped minus sign instead of a plus sign in one of the guidance parameters sent to RU27’s onboard computer.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2010
The presence of that measly minus sign has enormous ramifications.
—Shalma Wegsman, Wired News, 25 May 2025
But a minus sign may not be the only thing that disappears.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Eventually, the plus and minus signs became universal, as did the English symbol for equality, but only after decades of famous mathematicians competing in these popularity contests to set the trends.
—Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2025
That method has worked in Ars' testing, as has appending practically any other text string after a minus sign at the end of a search, for some reason.
—Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2025
The spread is typically shown with a minus sign in front of the favorite and a plus sign in front of the underdog.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
After locating the battery, remove the negative cable first (it should be marked with a minus sign), then remove the positive cable.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2024
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Shalma Wegsman, Wired News, 25 May 2025
Finally, the Arabella team pinpointed the problem—a hastily mistyped minus sign instead of a plus sign in one of the guidance parameters sent to RU27’s onboard computer.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2010
The presence of that measly minus sign has enormous ramifications.
—Shalma Wegsman, Wired News, 25 May 2025
But a minus sign may not be the only thing that disappears.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Eventually, the plus and minus signs became universal, as did the English symbol for equality, but only after decades of famous mathematicians competing in these popularity contests to set the trends.
—Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2025
That method has worked in Ars' testing, as has appending practically any other text string after a minus sign at the end of a search, for some reason.
—Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2025
The spread is typically shown with a minus sign in front of the favorite and a plus sign in front of the underdog.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
After locating the battery, remove the negative cable first (it should be marked with a minus sign), then remove the positive cable.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Minus sign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minus%20sign. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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