Greater than or equal symbol
The greater than or equal to symbol ≥ is the greater-than sign with one honest addition: the bar underneath that lets equality in. It is the sign of thresholds — ages, grades, capacities, requirements — anywhere the rule is “this much, and more is fine”. In plain words it reads as the at least symbol: age ≥ 18 simply means at least 18.
Copy the sign and its relatives
Thresholds ready to copy
≥ versus >: the bar is the whole difference
| Sign | Claim | Test at the boundary |
|---|---|---|
| > | Strictly greater — the boundary itself fails | 5 > 5 is FALSE |
| ≥ | Greater, or exactly equal — the boundary passes | 5 ≥ 5 is TRUE |
| ≧ | The same claim as ≥, drawn with the equal lines above the slant | 5 ≧ 5 is TRUE — a regional drawing of the same sign, seen in some East Asian textbooks |
Most real-world rules live at the boundary, which is why ≥ does so much work: a pass mark of ≥ 40 includes the student who scored exactly 40, a limit of ≥ 0 forbids negatives but welcomes zero. Writing > where ≥ belongs quietly moves the line — the equal to or greater than symbol exists to keep the line where you meant it.
How to type it
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Windows / Word | Type 2265 then Alt + X (no standard Alt code) |
| Mac | No keyboard shortcut — Character Viewer, or copy it here |
| HTML | The “ge” entity (ampersand + ge;) or code 8805; LaTeX: \geq |
| Excel / code | Two ordinary characters: >= — the keyboard form of the same claim |
Explore more
The strict sign and the famous pair table live on the greater than symbol page, the full operator family gathers on the math symbols hub, and every sign’s name is listed in the symbol names and meanings guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does ≥ mean in plain words?
“At least” — or “no less than”. x ≥ 10 means x is ten or more; the boundary value itself always qualifies.
What is the difference between ≥ and >?
One line: ≥ includes equality (5 ≥ 5 is true), > excludes it (5 > 5 is false). In rules and thresholds that single difference decides who or what qualifies.
How do I type ≥ in Excel?
As two characters: >= — formulas read =A1>=10 exactly like the single sign. The single glyph ≥ pasted into a cell is text, not an operator.
Is ≧ the same as ≥?
Yes in meaning — ≧ (U+2267) draws the equal part above the slant and appears in some countries’ textbooks. In most fonts and documents, ≥ (U+2265) is the standard form.
Why is there no ≥ key on the keyboard?
Keyboards inherited the typewriter’s small character set, and comparison signs beyond > and < never made the cut — one reason copy pages like this one exist.