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sexual minority

American  
[sek-shoo-uhl mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor-, mi-] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr-, mɪ- /

noun

  1. a member or members of the LGBTQ+ community, used especially in the context of discrimination against or advocacy for a minoritized sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.


Etymology

Origin of sexual minority

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

More than 900,000 people in Nepal identify as a sexual minority, according to the leading rights group the Blue Diamond Society.

From Barron's Jan. 26, 2026

Beach is the prime investigator for Project Recognize, which aims to improve data collection for asexual and sexual minority identities.

From Salon Mar. 16, 2024

The unanimous decision was the first time the court has ruled on workplace conditions for a sexual minority and could set a precedent for rulings relating to other public offices and private companies.

From New York Times Jul. 11, 2023

Among the respondents, 81% were between the ages of 25 and 54, 57% were women, 28% were people of color, and 21% identified as a gender or sexual minority.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 28, 2023

Researchers surveyed 1745 academic scientists in 2016, 1093 of whom identified as a sexual minority, asking them questions about their publishing history and openness in the workplace.

From Science Magazine Mar. 2, 2022

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