Etymology

Loan translation (1719) of Dutch meerderheid (± 1600), itself probably a loan translation French pluralité (“majority”, 1559). Old High German mērheit ‎(“quality of being more”) had no attested continuation. Analyzable as mehr ‎(“more”) +‎ -heit ‎(“-hood”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeːɐ̯haɪ̯t/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛɐ̯haɪ̯t/ (by a common merger)