Greater than or equal to sign (≥)
The greater than or equal to sign (≥) means the left side is bigger than the right side or equal to it. It is the sign for “at least”: an age of at least 21 is age ≥ 21.
Easily confused with
How to read it
It is read “is greater than or equal to”. OpenStax’s algebra textbooks treat “is at least”, “is no less than” and “is the minimum” as the same sign, and explain the line under an inequality sign as adding “or equal”. The code point is U+2265, GREATER-THAN OR EQUAL TO.
Also searched as: ≥, at least symbol, greater than or equal to symbol.
Look-alikes
≧ (U+2267), with two lines under the angle, is a separate character that Unicode names GREATER-THAN OVER EQUAL TO; it is the shape Bouguer used. Unicode also cross-refers ≥ to ⦥ (U+29A5), the reversed angle with underbar used in geometry. The less than or equal to sign ≤ points the other way.
Words that mean ≥
OpenStax’s Elementary Algebra lists the phrases that translate to ≥: is greater than or equal to, is at least, is no less than, and is the minimum.
More math symbols
Browse symbols drawn with lines.
Sources
- Mathematical Operators: Range 2200–22FF (code chart), The Unicode Standard, Version 18.0, Unicode Consortium, Mathematical Operators, 2265–2267
- Prealgebra 2e, 2.1 Use the Language of Algebra, OpenStax (Rice University), Inequality; Table 2.2
- Elementary Algebra 2e, 2.7 Solve Linear Inequalities, OpenStax (Rice University), Translate to an Inequality and Solve; Table 2.7
- Earliest Uses of Symbols of Relation, Jeff Miller, Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols, MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St Andrews, Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
Last reviewed September 30, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research