minority Hear it!

minority definition

mi·nor·ity (mī nôr′ə tē, mi-; -när′-)

noun pl. minorities -·ties

  1. the lesser part or smaller number; less than half of a total
  2. a group, party, or faction with a smaller number of votes or adherents than the majority
  3. a racial, religious, ethnic, or political group smaller than and differing from the larger, controlling group in a community, nation, etc.
  4. the period or condition of being under full legal age

Etymology: ML minoritas < L minor, minor

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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