7 symbols · one click each
Minus Sign
The minus sign (−, U+2212) is the mathematical sign for subtraction and negation. It is not the hyphen on the keyboard: it is wider, centred on the math axis and designed to line up with the plus sign. In an equation, − is the correct character; in plain text, people often type the shorter hyphen instead.
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Click a tile to copy. Each symbol’s name links to its full codes and typing page in the table below.
Codes for minus signs
Every symbol in this category with its Unicode code point and a recommended HTML value. Click the glyph or any chip to copy it.
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minus SignMathematical Operators | |||
| Minus-Or-Plus SignMathematical Operators | |||
| Commercial Minus SignGeneral Punctuation | |||
| Heavy Minus SignDingbats | |||
| Superscript MinusSuperscripts and Subscripts | |||
| Subscript MinusSuperscripts and Subscripts | |||
| Modifier Letter Minus SignSpacing Modifier Letters |
HTML values are named entities where a common one exists, otherwise decimal numeric references that work in any HTML document.
Using minus signs
Unicode pairs it with the minus-or-plus sign (∓), the commercial minus sign (⁒) and the heavy minus sign (➖). The superscript (⁻) and subscript (₋) forms place the sign above or below the baseline, and the modifier letter minus sign (˗) is a spacing character from the Spacing Modifier Letters block.
Use − for mathematics, a hyphen for compounds, an en dash for ranges and an em dash for asides. In HTML, − produces the minus sign; in Word, type 2212 and press Alt+X. The keyboard hyphen is a fallback, not a typographic minus.
- Click a tile to copy the symbol; the “Copied!” badge confirms it is on your clipboard.
- Open a symbol’s page for its Unicode name, HTML entity, CSS and JavaScript escapes, UTF-8 bytes and keyboard routes.
- Use the dash converter when you need to replace hyphens across a whole text.
- Use the dash line generator when you want a divider or a repeated line at an exact length.
Need the wider picture? Read the hyphen vs dash guide, the em dash vs en dash guide, or how to type a dash. For sentence-level patterns, see the em dash examples.
Related dash categories
Minus signs questions
What is the minus sign?
The minus sign (−, U+2212) is the mathematical symbol for subtraction and negative numbers. It is wider and more centred than the keyboard hyphen and is designed to match the plus sign in equations.
Is a hyphen the same as a minus sign?
No. The hyphen (-, U+002D) joins parts of a word; the minus sign (−, U+2212) performs subtraction. They look similar, but they have different code points and different typographic positions.
What does ∓ mean?
The minus-or-plus sign (∓, U+2213) presents a minus alternative first and a plus alternative second, the reverse of ±. It is used in formulas where two values differ in opposite directions.
How do I type a true minus sign?
Copy − from this page, or in Microsoft Word type 2212 and press Alt+X. In HTML use −. There is no standard Windows-1252 Alt code for it, so the numeric keypad route does not apply.