plus or minus

adverb

Definition of plus or minusnext
as in approximately
close to but not exactly I have plus or minus five dollars in change

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plus or minus But the race for governor is effectively deadlocked, with Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 24 July 2026 The poll of 1,000 Americans was conducted from September 2 to September 16, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. — Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2026 Here, purchaser simply put money in, and got money back, plus or minus their investment return, and less fees and expenses. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023 With only about 340 individuals — plus or minus seven — remaining, according to a report released in the fall by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, the whales are VIP visitors to the region's waters. — Heather McCarron, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for plus or minus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plus or minus
  1. approximately
  2. about
  3. roughly
  4. say
  5. around
Adverb
  • Construction site trial succeeds The team tested the complete system at an active construction site, where a worker wore the device for approximately 165 minutes while performing normal daily activities.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Between 1990 and 2017, the Justice Department pursued approximately 305 denaturalization cases nationwide, averaging about 11 annually, according to figures previously reported by the Miami Herald.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of approximately
Adverb
  • The governor’s mansion, Plantation House, was built in 1791 by the East India Company, and is famed today as the home of Jonathan, a tortoise from the Seychelles who is now aged about 194 and thought to be the oldest creature on Earth.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The main museum, at 1250 Bannock Street, will continue to show and conserve Still’s roughly 3,125 pieces of art (or about 93% of his lifetime work, officials said).
    — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of about
Adverb
  • Surveys have shown Lula and Flavio polling roughly even in an October 25 runoff.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Local officials estimated that Springfield, a city of about 60,000 people, had roughly 10,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants before the termination of TPS and recent immigration crackdowns.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of roughly
Adverb
  • The result has been a group of ridiculously talented dancers with a never-say-quit attitude and a lot of stuff to say — and doing it elegantly.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Definition of say
Adverb
  • Back on the boat, Joe and Nathan joke around in the crew mess.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The neighborhood/area While Southall is just four miles from historic downtown Franklin, it is designed to feel like there’s nothing else around.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of around

Browse Nearby Words

plushy
plus or minus
plutocracy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plus or minus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plus%20or%20minus. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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