I. məˈjȯrəd.ē, -jär-, -ətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French majorité, from Medieval Latin majoritat-, majoritas, from Latin major, adjective + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. obsolete : the quality or state of being greater : superiority
whose … great name in arms holds from all soldiers chief majority and military title capital — Shakespeare
2. : the status of being of full legal age
graduated … before he had attained his majority — W.L.Burrage
3.
a. : a number greater than half of a total
the majority of the human race is still today on the sidelines, watching and wondering — A.J.Toynbee
— distinguished from plurality
b. : the excess of such a greater number over the remainder of the total : edge , margin
resulted in giving him a majority of 98 out of a total of 504 votes cast — Joseph Schafer
c. : the preponderant quantity or share
the majority of the wool used in the United States is imported — F.J.Soday
4. : all dead persons
the end comes: he joins the majority — W.H.Auden
5. : the group or party whose votes preponderate
6.
[probably from French majorité, from major (officer) + -ité -ity]
: the military office, rank, or commission of a major
majorities and colonelcies were thick as June blackberries — Dixon Wecter
II. adjective
: of, relating to, or constituting a majority
each committee is therefore composed of majority and minority members — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray