minority

[ mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi- ]

/ maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr, mɪ- /

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See synonyms for: minority / minorities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mi·nor·i·ties.

the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.

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

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.

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.

a member of such a group.

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

adjective

of or relating to a minority.

OTHER WORDS FOR minority

6 childhood, boyhood, girlhood.

See synonyms for minority on Thesaurus.com

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Compare majority-minority.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM minority

non·mi·nor·i·ty, adjectivepro·mi·nor·i·ty, adjective

How to use minority in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Latinos, the fastest growing minority group in America, are even more underrepresented in Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She ultimately ditched JSwipe after about a week and found her current, non-Jewish, boyfriend on OkCupid.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For my friend, a small minority of JSwipe matches materialized into conversations, and none have materialized into dates.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The expatriated ex-rebels became alarmed by the non-receipt of the indemnity instalment and the news from their homes.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He also states that the Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court in which justice may be sought.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
De moi, je ne say qu'en dire, d'autant que je ne veux affirmer ny le si ny le non en ce dont je n'ay vidence.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Certes le capitaine Merveilles et ses gens monstrerent leur pit non vulgaire.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
It teaches you to take your time, or as the Germans call it, it gives you "Ruhe (repose)," the grand sine qua non!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

British Dictionary definitions for minority

minority

/ (maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ, mɪ-) /

noun plural -ties

the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups

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 ageCompare majority

(modifier) relating to or being a minoritya minority interest; a minority opinion

Word Origin for minority

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

minority

OTHER WORDS FOR minority

Origin of minority

OTHER WORDS FROM minority

Words related to minority

How to use minority in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for minority

Word Origin for minority