minority leader

American  

noun

1. the party member who directs the activities of the minority party on the floor of a legislative body, as of the U.S. Congress.

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minority leader Cultural  

1. The leader of the political party that holds a minority of seats in either house of Congress or of a state legislature. Selected by their own party caucus es, minority leaders act as chief spokespersons and strategists for their parties.

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Etymology

Origin of minority leader

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

It shifted control over appointments to the General Assembly’s majority and minority leaders and put some of the board’s administrative functions under the secretary of state.

From Salon

Strong party leaders in the House — whether as speaker or minority leader — have historically held some measure of influence in the Senate.

From Salon

Speaking of Hakeem Jeffries, the house minority leader, he said that the two of you spoke this past weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal

In terms of polling, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader in the Senate, addressed the party’s poor polling numbers at a press conference in late July.

From Salon

The Senate minority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, and nine others broke with their colleagues to vote to advance the bill to its final Friday evening vote.

From BBC