majority
/məˈdʒɒrətɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- the greater number多数, 大多数：
in the majority of cases all will go smoothly
大多数情况下一切都会很顺利
as modifier it was a majority decision.这是多数人的决定。
1.1
- Brit. the number by which the votes cast for one party or candidate exceed those of the next in rank〈英〉领先票数（指政党或候选人得票超过对手的数目）：
Labour retained the seat with a majority of 9,830.
工党领先9,830票保住了席位。
1.2
- a party or group receiving the greater number of votes多数党; 多数派。
1.3
- US the number by which votes for one candidate are more than those for all other candidates together〈美〉绝对多数（指候选人得票数超过其他候选人得票数总和的数目）。
2
- mass noun the age when a person is legally considered a full adult, in most contexts either 18 or 21成年, 法定年龄。
3
- the rank or office of a major少校军衔; 少校职位。
USAGE
Strictly speaking， majority should be used with countable nouns to mean 'the greater number'， as in the majority of cases. Use with uncountable nouns to mean 'the greatest part'， as in I spent the majority of the day reading or she ate the majority of the meal is not considered good standard English， although it is common in informal contexts.
短语
be in the majority
- belong to or constitute the larger group or number属多数; 占多数：
publishing houses where women are in the majority.
妇女占多数的出版社。
词源
mid 16th cent. (denoting superiority)： from French majorité, from medieval Latin majoritas, from Latin major （see MAJOR）.