What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
majority
Example
The majority of the students in the class are from China. [majority: noun]
Example
The candidate won the election with a majority of the votes. [majority: adjective]
Example
The majority of the people in the room agreed with the proposal. [majority: noun]
plurality
Example
The plurality of the students in the class are from China, but there are also students from other countries. [plurality: noun]
Example
The candidate won the election with a plurality of the votes, meaning they received more votes than any other candidate but not necessarily more than half. [plurality: noun]
Example
There was a plurality of opinions on the matter, but most people seemed to agree with one particular viewpoint. [plurality: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Majority is a more common term than plurality in everyday language and politics. Majority is a precise term that is used more frequently to describe situations where one option or group is larger than any other.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between majority and plurality?
Both majority and plurality can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, majority is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
