Minutes vs. Minute — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 11, 2023
Minutes are the official written record of a meeting, while "minute" is a unit of time equivalent to 60 seconds or a brief note or summary.
Difference Between Minutes and Minute
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Key Differences
The term Minutes commonly refers to the official written record of what was discussed and decided during a formal meeting. The word "minute" in this context stems from the Latin phrase "minuta scriptura", meaning "small notes". A Minute, on the other hand, is a measure of time that equates to 60 seconds, and is a sixtieth of an hour.
When people refer to Minutes of a meeting, they are referencing a document that captures the key points, decisions, and action items from that meeting. A Minute can also imply a very short amount of time, often used in idiomatic expressions such as "wait a minute" or "just a minute".
In another sense, the word Minute can describe something that is very small or of little importance. For instance, "minute details" or "minute differences". This is not to be confused with Minutes which are often crucial records for organizations.
Minutes are usually taken by a designated person during a meeting, called the minute-taker, and are often shared with participants afterwards to ensure alignment and action. The singular form, Minute, when referring to time, is universally recognized and standardized as 60 seconds.
While Minutes serve as a reference point for those who attended the meeting or for those who need to understand the meeting's outcomes, a Minute serves as a fundamental unit in the measurement of time, crucial for various daily activities, synchronization, and operations.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Official record of a meeting
Unit of time (60 seconds)
Grammatical Number
Plural
Singular
Contextual Usage
Organizational, formal meetings
Timekeeping, descriptions
Related Phrases
"Take down the minutes"
"Wait a minute", "minute details"
Origin
From Latin "minuta scriptura" (small notes)
From Latin "minuta" (small part of hour)
Compare with Definitions
Minutes
Measures of geographic longitude and latitude.
The coordinates are 40 degrees 26 minutes north.
Minute
A unit of time equal to 60 seconds.
It takes a minute for the microwave to heat the soup.
Minutes
The distance that can be traveled in a minute.
The store is just five minutes away.
Minute
A brief note or summary.
He jotted down a minute of the conversation.
Minutes
A summary or brief note.
The assistant took minutes during the lecture.
Minute
An exact point in time.
The event starts at the exact minute.
Minutes
The official written record of a meeting.
The committee reviews the minutes from the previous meeting.
Minute
The minute is a unit of time usually equal to 1/60 (the first sexagesimal fraction) of an hour, or 60 seconds. In the UTC time standard, a minute on rare occasions has 61 seconds, a consequence of leap seconds (there is a provision to insert a negative leap second, which would result in a 59-second minute, but this has never happened in more than 40 years under this system).
Minutes
Exact moments or specific time intervals.
The train departs at 5 minutes past the hour.
Minute
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds.
Minutes
Minutes, also known as minutes of meeting (abbreviation MoM), protocols or, informally, notes, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting and may include a list of attendees, a statement of the issues considered by the participants, and related responses or decisions for the issues.
Minute
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called arcminute, minute of arc.
Minutes
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds.
Minute
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute
Lives ten minutes from school.
Minutes
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called arcminute, minute of arc.
Minute
A short interval of time; moment.
Minutes
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute
Lives ten minutes from school.
Minute
A specific point in time
Stop that this minute!.
Minutes
A short interval of time; moment.
Minute
A note or summary covering points to be remembered; a memorandum.
Minutes
A specific point in time
Stop that this minute!.
Minute
Minutes An official record of the proceedings of a meeting.
Minutes
A note or summary covering points to be remembered; a memorandum.
Minute
To record in a memorandum or the minutes of a meeting.
Minutes
Minutes An official record of the proceedings of a meeting.
Minute
Exceptionally small; tiny.
Minutes
To record in a memorandum or the minutes of a meeting.
Minute
Not worthy of notice; insignificant
A minute problem.
Minutes
Plural of minute
Minute
Characterized by careful scrutiny and close examination
Held a minute inspection of the grounds.
Minutes
The official notes kept during a meeting.
Minute
A unit of time equal to sixty seconds (one-sixtieth of an hour).
You have twenty minutes to complete the test.
Minutes
A written account of what transpired at a meeting
Minute
(informal) A short but unspecified time period.
Wait a minute, I’m not ready yet!
Minute
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a degree.
We need to be sure these maps are accurate to within one minute of arc.
Minute
A (usually formal) written record of a meeting or a part of a meeting.
Let’s look at the minutes of last week’s meeting.
Minute
A unit of purchase on a telephone or other similar network, especially a cell phone network, roughly equivalent in gross form to sixty seconds' use of the network.
If you buy this model, you’ll get 100 free minutes.
Minute
A point in time; a moment.
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Minute
An old coin, a half farthing.
Minute
(obsolete) A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a whit.
Minute
(architecture) A fixed part of a module.
Minute
A while or a long unspecified period of time
Oh, I ain't heard that song in a minute!
Minute
(transitive) Of an event, to write in a memo or the minutes of a meeting.
I’ll minute this evening’s meeting.
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
Minute
Very small.
They found only minute quantities of chemical residue on his clothing.
Minute
Very careful and exact, giving small details.
The lawyer gave the witness a minute examination.
Minute
The sixtieth part of an hour; sixty seconds. (Abbrev. m. or min.; as, 4 h. 30 m.
Four minutes, that is to say, minutes of an hour.
Minute
The sixtieth part of a degree; sixty seconds (Marked thus (´); as, 10° 20´).
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Minute
A coin; a half farthing.
Minute
A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a tittle.
Minutes and circumstances of his passion.
Minute
A point of time; a moment.
I go this minute to attend the king.
Minute
The memorandum; a record; a note to preserve the memory of anything; as, to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate; to read the minutes of the last meeting.
Minute
A fixed part of a module. See Module.
Minute
Of or pertaining to a minute or minutes; occurring at or marking successive minutes.
Minute
Very small; little; tiny; fine; slight; slender; inconsiderable; as, minute details.
Minute
Attentive to small things; paying attention to details; critical; particular; precise; as, a minute observer; minute observation.
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
The Empress of Russia, with her own hand, minuted an edict for universal tolerance.
Minute
A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour;
He ran a 4 minute mile
Minute
An indefinitely short time;
Wait just a moment
It only takes a minute
In just a bit
Minute
A particular point in time;
The moment he arrived the party began
Minute
A unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree
Minute
A short note;
The secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting
Minute
Distance measured by the time taken to cover it;
We live an hour from the airport
Its just 10 minutes away
Minute
Infinitely or immeasurably small;
Two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm
Reduced to a microscopic scale
Minute
Immeasurably small
Minute
Characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
A minute inspection of the grounds
A narrow scrutiny
An exact and minute report
Minute
Extremely small.
There's a minute error in the calculations.
Minute
One sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement.
The angle measures 45 degrees and 30 minutes.
Common Curiosities
Are "minutes" considered official records?
Yes, they serve as an official record of what was discussed during a meeting.
What's the origin of the term "minute" in timekeeping?
It comes from the Latin "minuta", meaning a small part of an hour.
Can "minute" refer to something small in size?
Yes, like "minute details" meaning very small details.
Is a "minute" always 60 seconds?
In timekeeping, yes; however, "minute" can also mean something very small.
Can "minutes" be used to describe time intervals?
Yes, like "five minutes away" or "wait a few minutes".
Are "minutes" usually shared after a meeting?
Yes, to ensure alignment and clarity among participants.
How are "minutes" typically stored?
They can be stored digitally, in binders, or archives for future reference.
Are "minutes" always related to meetings?
Primarily, but "minutes" can also denote distances or moments in time.
Who typically writes the "minutes" of a meeting?
A designated minute-taker, often a secretary or assistant.
Is "minute" used in angular measurements?
Yes, a "minute" is one-sixtieth of a degree in angles.
How important are "minutes" in organizational contexts?
They are crucial for capturing decisions, action items, and discussions.
Can "minute" refer to an exact moment?
Yes, like "the event starts at the exact minute".
Does "minute" always mean a brief amount of time?
Primarily, but it can also refer to something very small or a brief note.
Are "minutes" and "minute" related in their origins?
Both have roots in the Latin "minuta", but have evolved to have different primary meanings.
Is there a connection between the "minute" of time and "minute" meaning small?
Both derive from the Latin "minuta", but their modern meanings have diverged.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
