Ma-jōr'i-ty, n.

n. [L. Lat. majoritas, from Lat. major, greater; Fr. majorité, Pr. majoritat, O. Sp. mayoridad, N. Sp. mayoria, Pg. maioridade. See MAJOR.]

1. The quality or condition of being major or greater; superiority; high rank; specifically, (a.) The military rank of a major. (b.) The condition of being of full age, or authorized by law to manage one's own concerns.
2. The greater number; more than half; as, a majority of mankind.
3. [Lat. majores.] Ancestors; ancestry. [Obs.]
4. The amount by which a greater thing or part exceeds the less; especially, the number by which the votes for a successful candidate exceed those for other candidates; as, he is elected by a majority of five hundred votes.