plus/minus sign

noun

: the sign ± used to indicate a quantity (such as 2 in "the square root of 4 is ±2") taking on both an algebraically positive value and its negative and to indicate a plus or minus quantity (such as 4 in "the population age was 30 ± 4 years")

called also plus/minus symbol

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plus/minus sign was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near plus/minus sign

Cite this Entry

“Plus/minus sign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plus%2Fminus%20sign. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

plus/minus sign

noun
: the sign ± used to mean that a quantity (as 2 in "the square root of 4 is ± 2") takes on both a positive and a negative value or to indicate a plus or minus quantity (as 5 in "the scale was accurate to ± 5 grams")

called also plus/minus symbol

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