majority

The majority is the greater part of a whole, especially more than half. Think about voting: the candidate who gets the majority of votes wins the election. It does not mean that everyone agrees, only that more people support one side than the other. You might talk about the "majority opinion" when describing what most people think, or a "large majority" to show a very strong lead. Sometimes, the word is also used in law, as in the age of majority, which means the age when a person legally becomes an adult.

Imagine a classroom full of students deciding what game to play. If more than half of them want to play tag, then there is a majority for tag. That is the core idea behind this word: the larger number or part of a group.

The majority is not the same as all; it means "more than half." In politics, a majority vote is often needed to pass laws, showing that most lawmakers support the proposal. But the idea goes far beyond government. You can talk about "the majority of people" who prefer coffee over tea, or "a large majority" to show very strong support for an idea.

Interestingly, "majority" isn't always about counting heads in a crowd. It also refers to the legal status of adulthood. When a person reaches the age of majority (usually 18), they are considered legally responsible for their own actions and gain rights like the ability to sign contracts.

There are also some useful details to know. A simple majority means anything over half, while a qualified majority or supermajority (such as two-thirds) requires a higher level of agreement. Whether you are talking about votes, opinions, legal standing, or parts of a whole, the majority is the larger part: the side with the most people, support, or influence.