“The majority of” can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on what it’s referring to. If it’s followed by a plural, countable noun, use a plural verb: “The majority of voters were undecided.” If it’s followed by a singular, uncountable noun or stands alone as an abstract idea, use a singular verb: “The majority was clear.” The phrase itself doesn’t lock you into one form — the noun after it drives the decision.
This trips up even careful writers because “majority” looks singular on the page. But English treats it as a flexible collective noun, and the words around it matter more than the word itself.
The Short Answer
Look at what comes right after “of.”
- Plural countable noun → plural verb: “The majority of employees want remote work.”
- Singular or uncountable noun → singular verb: “The majority of the cake was eaten.”
- No noun following (majority as the subject on its own) → singular verb: “The majority rules.”
Why People Get It Wrong
Writers often default to a singular verb because “majority” is grammatically singular in form — like “team” or “committee.” That instinct is reasonable but incomplete. Unlike a fixed collective noun, “the majority of” is what grammarians call a partitive construction: it describes a portion of something else, and the verb has to agree with that something else, not with “majority” itself.
Compare it to phrases like “a lot of,” “a number of,” or “some of.” They all work the same way. Nobody writes “a lot of people is coming” — the plural “people” pulls the verb along with it. “The majority of” behaves identically.
The One Exception
When “majority” stands alone, without an “of” phrase attached, it’s always singular: “The majority has spoken.” “A clear majority supports the plan.” Here there’s no plural noun in sight to argue for a plural verb, so the default singular form takes over.
Examples in a Sentence
| Sentence | Verb Form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The majority of students pass the exam. | Plural | “Students” is plural and countable. |
| The majority of the budget is spent on salaries. | Singular | “Budget” is singular here. |
| The majority of the fruit was rotten. | Singular | “Fruit” is treated as a mass noun. |
| The majority of respondents agree with the proposal. | Plural | “Respondents” is plural. |
| The majority prefers change. | Singular | No noun follows “majority.” |
A Quick Test You Can Run
- Find the noun immediately after “of.”
- Ask: is it plural and countable, or singular/uncountable?
- Match the verb to that noun, not to “majority.”
If you’re still unsure, try swapping “majority of” for “most of.” The sentence should behave the same way: “Most of the employees want” flows naturally, and so does “the majority of the employees want.” “Most of” is a useful shortcut because it forces the same agreement pattern.
Formal Writing vs. Everyday Speech
In casual speech, people sometimes default to a singular verb regardless of context — “the majority of people is upset” — and it barely registers as wrong in conversation. In formal or professional writing, though, this distinction matters. Editors, style guides, and grammar checkers will flag the mismatch, so it’s worth getting right in reports, emails, and articles where precision reflects on you.
Key Takeaways
- “The majority of” takes its verb form from the noun that follows it, not from “majority” itself.
- Plural, countable nouns (people, voters, students) call for a plural verb.
- Singular or uncountable nouns (budget, fruit, water) call for a singular verb.
- “Majority” alone, with no “of” phrase, is always singular.
- Testing with “most of” as a substitute is a fast way to check yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “the majority of people” singular or plural?
Plural. “People” is a plural noun, so the correct form is “the majority of people are,” not “is.”
Is it “the majority of the data is” or “are”?
It depends on how you’re treating “data.” In most modern usage, “data” is treated as a mass noun, so “the majority of the data is” is standard. In strict scientific or academic style, “the majority of the data are” is preferred.
Can “majority” ever be plural on its own?
British English sometimes treats collective nouns like “majority” as plural even without a following noun, especially when emphasizing individual members: “The majority are in favor.” American English almost always keeps it singular in that position: “The majority is in favor.”
Is “the majority of” the same as “most of”?
Functionally, yes. Both mean “more than half,” and both follow the same agreement rule based on the noun that follows. “Most of” is simply the more casual, shorter alternative.
Should I use “the majority of” or just “most” in formal writing?
Either works. “The majority of” can sound slightly more formal or precise, especially with numbers or survey data, while “most” reads a bit lighter. Neither is wrong — pick based on tone.
Once you spot the pattern — verb agrees with the noun after “of,” not with “majority” itself — this phrase stops being a guessing game. Browse the rest of Meaningiffied for more everyday grammar questions untangled just as quickly.
