−

See also: ⁻ [U+207B SUPERSCRIPT MINUS], - [U+002D HYPHEN-MINUS], ‐ [U+2010 HYPHEN], – [U+2013 EN DASH], — [U+2014 EM DASH], ー [U+30FC KATAKANA-HIRAGANA PROLONGED SOUND MARK], and 一 [U+4E00 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E00]

− U+2212, − MINUS SIGN ← ∑ [U+2211] Mathematical Operators ∓ → [U+2213]

Character variations

⁻ U+207B, ⁻ SUPERSCRIPT MINUS ← ⁺ [U+207A] Superscripts and Subscripts ⁼ → [U+207C]

₋ U+208B, ₋ SUBSCRIPT MINUS ← ₊ [U+208A] Superscripts and Subscripts ₌ → [U+208C]

Text style	Emoji style
➖︎	➖️
Text style is forced with ⟨︎⟩ and emoji style with ⟨️⟩.
➖ U+2796, ➖ HEAVY MINUS SIGN ← ➕ [U+2795] Dingbats ➗ → [U+2797]

Translingual

Glyph origin

There are many theories regarding the origin of the minus sign. According to one theory, it originates from a handwriting form of the letter m (for minus) that came to resemble a horizontal bar, Another theory traces it back to a hieratic sign.

Symbol

− (English symbol name minus sign)

1. (mathematics) subtraction

   8 − 3 = 5

2. (mathematics) negative sign. "negative", "minus", "the opposite of"
   • Aldrichimica Acta Volume 30 No 4 (pdf) from Sigma-Aldrich

     Decomposition of 4 in the presence of cis-piperylene at room temperature results in the stereocontrolled formation of trans-cycloheptadiene 27 in 90% ee (96% ee at -78 °C).

   −(−5) = 5

3. (informal, slang) Less than, or “or less”.

   13-

   less than 13 (years old)

4. (mathematics) Relative complement. "minus", "without".

   {1,2,4} − {1,3,4} = {2}

5. (mathematics) from the negative side

   $\lim _{x\to a^{-}}f(x)$ is the same as $\lim _{x\uparrow a}\,f(x)$

6. (medicine) rejective result from laboratory test
7. (electricity) cathode

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:−.

Synonyms

• (non-Anglophone countries) ÷
• (relative complement): ∖

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “all except relative complement”): +

Related terms

• - (hyphen-minus)