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(Copied first few paragraphs of w:Majority (this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Majority&oldid=1107851583 )) |
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<blockquote>
A '''majority''', also called a '''simple majority''' or '''absolute majority''' to distinguish it from [[#Related terms|related terms]], is more than half of the total.<ref name="majority-dictionaries">Dictionary definitions of ''majority'' at [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majority Merriam-Webster], [https://dictionary.reference.com/browse/majority dictionary.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221102100/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/majority |date=2015-12-21 }}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130524150957/http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/majority Oxford English Dictionary], [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/majority thefreedictionary.com], and [http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/majority Cambridge English Dictionary].</ref> It is a [[subset]] of a [[Set (mathematics)|set]] consisting of more than half of the set's elements. For example, if a group consists of 20 individuals, a majority would be 11 or more individuals, while having 10 or fewer individuals would not constitute a majority. "Majority" can be used to specify the voting requirement, as in a "majority vote", which means more than half of the votes cast.▼
In [[British English]] the term "majority" is also alternatively used to refer to the winning margin, i.e., the number of votes separating the first-place finisher from the second-place finisher. Other related terms containing the word "majority" have their own meanings, which may sometimes be inconsistent in usage.
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A '''majority''' means, literally, "more than half". Compare this with [[plurality]], which means "the most of the group". When applied to specific situations, majority can take on different meanings, depending on how you apply it:▼
▲A '''majority''', also called a '''simple majority''' or '''absolute majority''' to distinguish it from
*'''simple majority''' means "more than half of cast votes"▼
▲
*'''[[absolute majority]]''' means "more than half of eligible voters"▼
*'''"relative majority"''' is not a true majority. This is a [[Plurality|'''plurality''']].
▲*'''[[absolute majority]]''' means "more than half of eligible voters". This can be used in contexts where less than 100% of eligible voters cast ballots.
*a '''supermajority''' is a fraction of the voters between half and all (e.g. 2/3)
*'''consensus''' usually means complete agreement or "all voters"
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