minority

[ mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi- ]
See synonyms for: minorityminorities on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural mi·nor·i·ties.
  1. the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.

  2. a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action.

  1. a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority: The ethnic minority was disproportionately affected by the reduction in preventative medical services.

  2. a racial, ethnic, religious, or social subdivision of a society that is subordinated in political, financial, or social power by the dominant group, without regard to the size of these groups: legislation aimed at providing equal rights for minorities.

  3. a member of such a group.

  4. the state or period of being under the legal age of full responsibility.

adjective
  1. of or relating to a minority.

Origin of minority

1
First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English, from Middle French minorité, from Medieval Latin minōritāt-, stem of minōritās; see minor, -ity

Other words for minority

Other words from minority

  • non·mi·nor·i·ty, adjective
  • pro·mi·nor·i·ty, adjective

Words Nearby minority

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use minority in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for minority

minority

/ (maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ, mɪ-) /


nounplural -ties
  1. the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups

  2. a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of which it is a part

    • the state of being a minor

    • the period during which a person is below legal age: Compare majority

  1. (modifier) relating to or being a minority: a minority interest; a minority opinion

Origin of minority

1
C16: from Medieval Latin minōritās, from Latin minor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012