minority

American  

[mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi-] / maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr, mɪ- /

noun

• minorities
  plural

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. a member of such a group.

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

   Synonyms:

   girlhood, boyhood, childhood

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adjective

1. of or relating to a minority.

minority British  

/ maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ, mɪ- /

noun

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

3. 1. the state of being a minor

   2. the period during which a person is below legal age Compare majority

4. (modifier) relating to or being a minority

   a minority interest

   a minority opinion

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonminority
  adjective
• prominority
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• minorities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of minority

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

Explanation

If you have eight pennies and twelve dimes, the minority — or smaller portion — of your coins are pennies. If you're left-handed, you are in the minority, because most people are right-handed. That means that right-handed people are the majority (the opposite of minority). Minority is typically used to refer to the smaller of two numbers being compared or to a group of people that is not predominant in a particular country or population. Less commonly, it refers to the time period before someone is of legal age.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minority minorities

A vocal minority is in favor, "but then the mass majority is, I think, not as concerned."

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Keurig Dr Pepper is selling its minority stake in Chobani, along with a Pennsylvania manufacturing facility, to the yogurt maker for $925 million ahead of the beverage company’s planned spinoff of its coffee business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

A minority stake in the San Francisco Giants was announced as its first deal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

For the small minority of women who do return for their eggs, control remains elusive.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

Turkey’s Armenian population, a vulnerable minority in the Ottoman Empire, suffered grievously during the war.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

“For women, people of color, queer people, any minorities, we just want the opportunity to show what we can do,” Williams says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

There are also small minorities of North African Jews and Hindus from what is now Pakistan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Department of State gave money to groups protecting free speech, human rights and persecuted minorities in poor and authoritarian countries.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

The French president is also eager for Sharaa to maintain his pledge to protect Syria's minorities, after sectarian bloodshed in its Alawite and Druze heartlands last year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026

So of course he thinks I’m an idiot for wanting to go into social work to help minorities.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes

Related Words

• opposition