Minority Definition

mə-nôrĭ-tē, -nŏr-, mī-

minorities

noun

minorities

The lesser part or smaller number; less than half of a total.

Webster's New World

A group, party, or faction with a smaller number of votes or adherents than the majority.

Webster's New World

A racial, religious, ethnic, or political group smaller than and differing from the larger population in a community, nation, etc. and often regarded as having particular social or political advantages or disadvantages.

Webster's New World

A group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society.

American Heritage

A member of such a group.

Scholarship opportunities for minorities.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
childhood
adolescence
immaturity
pupilage
group
youth
nonage
infancy
the outs
splinter-group
the outnumbered
the-few
the outvoted
less than half
opposition

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
majority

adjective

Of or having to do with a group, political party, etc. that constitutes a minority.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Minority

Noun

Singular:

minority

Plural:

minorities

Origin of Minority

French minorité from Medieval Latin minōritās from Latin minor smaller minor

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minoritas, from Latin minor.

From Wiktionary