majority

Majority denotes the value or group that comprises more than half of a total. In decision-making, it is the threshold required to approve a proposal, select a leader, or allocate a seat. A majority can be defined in several ways: a simple (or relative) majority requires more than half of the votes cast; an absolute majority requires more than half of all eligible votes, regardless of turnout; a plurality is the largest share but may not exceed half; a supermajority is a higher threshold, such as two-thirds or three-fifths, used for particular actions.

In political and organizational contexts, decisions are often made by majority rule. If a party or coalition holds a majority of seats, it can typically pass legislation, form a government, or control committees. When no clear majority exists, a minority government or a coalition government may form. Votes for executives, referenda, or constitutional changes may require different majorities depending on legal or constitutional rules, and these requirements can shape bargaining and governance strategies.

Other uses of the term appear in law, jurisprudence, and statistics. Juries or panels may require a majority verdict in some jurisdictions, while others demand unanimity. In corporate governance, voting shares or members may determine control by majority approval. In statistics and everyday language, majority denotes the dominant position or the majority of observations, meaning more than half of the considered group. Overall, the concept of majority underpins many democratic and organizational decision processes.