Großteil

Großteil is a German noun that denotes the majority or the main portion of something. It refers to the larger share within a total, as in der Großteil der Befragten, meaning the majority of the respondents. The term is widely used in both everyday language and formal writing to indicate a substantial part of a set, group, or quantity.

Etymology and usage: Großteil is a compound of groß (large) and Teil (part). It is standard in modern German and typically used with the definite article der (der Großteil) or with an indefinite form (ein Großteil), followed by a noun clause that specifies what constitutes the majority. It can describe numerical shares as well as broader, non-numerical predominance.

Nuances and comparison: Großteil emphasizes the size of a portion rather than its importance or significance. It is closely related to synonyms like Mehrheit, but often feels slightly more neutral or formal and is frequently employed when speaking of proportions, percentages, or large segments rather than an exact majority when precision is required.

Examples: Der Großteil der Bevölkerung unterstützt die Maßnahme. Ein Großteil der Kosten wird vom Staat getragen. Der Großteil der Arbeiten ist bereits erledigt.

See also: Mehrheit, Anteil, Teilmenge. While related, these terms have distinct emphases: Mehrheit stresses numerical supremacy, Anteil refers to a share, and Teilmenge denotes a subpart within a set.