The word "majority" is spelled with a silent "j" and pronounced /məˈdʒɒrəti/. The "j" is derived from Latin, which is where the word originated. In English, the "j" is no longer pronounced, and the word is simply spelled phonetically. "Majority" is defined as the greater part or number; more than half of a total population. It is a common word used in discussions of politics, voting, and decision making.
The term "majority" refers to the larger or greater portion or number of people or things within a particular group, category, or population. It describes a numerical quantity that represents more than half of the total count. In essence, the majority constitutes the largest proportion or proportion exceeding half of the whole.
This concept commonly applies to various contexts, including demographics, politics, decision-making, and opinions. For instance, within a country's population, the majority refers to the portion that exceeds 50% of the total inhabitants. In political systems, majority represents the group holding the most seats or votes, often indicating significant influence in decision-making processes.
In democratic settings, the majority vote is a fundamental principle, where decisions or opinions are determined by the preference of over half of the voting individuals. Similarly, in legal terms, a majority verdict signifies that a chosen opinion has received approval from the majority of judges or jurors involved.
The majority is not limited to numbers alone, as it can extend to prevailing opinions, beliefs, or attitudes within a group or society. In such cases, the majority opinion signifies the viewpoint held by a significant number of individuals.
Overall, the term "majority" implies a substantial portion or numerical superiority within a given context, determining the dominant group, decision, or viewpoint.
Full age or end of minority; the greater number; more than a half; the number by which the votes for the successful candidate exceed those of the unsuccessful one; the military rank of a major.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "majority" originated from the Latin term "majoritas", which is derived from the Latin word "major" meaning "greater" or "larger". It is formed by adding the suffix "-itas", denoting a state or condition, to the adjective "major". The word was later adopted into Old French as "majorité" before entering the English language.