# minus

> English word · Preposition · IPA /ˈmaɪ.nəs/ · frequency rank #7,158

## Definitions
1. Made less or reduced by (followed by an expression of number or quantity).
2. Without; deprived of.

## Etymology
From Middle English mynus, from Latin minus, neuter form of minor, comparative form of parvus (“small, little”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey- (“few, small”).

## Easily confused with
- **miss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-miss)
- **Mons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-mons)
- **monks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-monks)
- **mucus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-mucus)
- **modus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-modus)
- **mists** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-mists)
- **minute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-minute)
- **misuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-misuse)
- **missus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-missus)
- **minutes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minus-vs-minutes)
- **min** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/min-vs-minus)
- **mind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mind-vs-minus)
- **mine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mine-vs-minus)
- **mini** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mini-vs-minus)
- **menu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/menu-vs-minus)
- **mint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mint-vs-minus)
- **mans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mans-vs-minus)
- **ming** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ming-vs-minus)
- **mens** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mens-vs-minus)
- **mina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mina-vs-minus)

## Common misspellings (7)
`imnus`, `minnus`, `minsu`, `minuss`, `miuns`, `mminus`, `mnius`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/minus