Minority definition

mə-nôrĭ-tē, -nŏr-, mī-
minorities
See word origin
Frequency:
Of or having to do with a group, political party, etc. that constitutes a minority.
adjective
13
7
A group, party, or faction with a smaller number of votes or adherents than the majority.
noun
7
3
The lesser part or smaller number; less than half of a total.
noun
12
9
(US) A member of an ethnic minority. [from 20th c.]

The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.

noun
4
1
A racial, religious, political, national, or other group thought to be different from the larger group of which it is part.
noun
3
0
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The period or condition of being under full legal age.
noun
3
0
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.
noun
3
0
A member of such a group.

Scholarship opportunities for minorities.

noun
3
0
A group or party having fewer than a controlling number of votes.
noun
3
1
A group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society.
noun
3
1
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An ethnic, religious, or other defined group of people who may face discrimination from the majority as a result of their differences.
noun
2
0
The condition of not yet being of legal age.
noun
2
0
A group of less than half of eligible voters.
noun
2
0
The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood. [from 15th c.]
noun
2
0
Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority. [from 18th c.]

Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.

noun
2
0
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(politics, used attributively of a party, government, etc.) Empowered by or representing a minority (usually a plurality) of votes cast, legislative seats, etc., rather than an outright majority thereof.
noun
2
0
The definition of a minority is a group of people that differ in some way from the majority of the population, or any part of a whole that is smaller than the other parts.

When you own less than 50 percent of a building, this is an example of a time when you own a minority interest.

A person from a non-Caucasian race is an example of a minority.

noun
2
1
(law) The state or period of being younger than the age for legal adulthood.

Still in her minority.

noun
2
1
The smaller in number of two groups forming a whole.
noun
2
1
A member of one of these groups.
noun
1
1
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Other Word Forms

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

Minority Sentence Examples

  • His minority was a time of anarchy.

  • The minority among the "nations" chose him as rector in opposition to the elected candidate, Aubri de.

  • Students on March I 1921 numbered 2,111 men and 1,145 women, 2,328 students being Letts, 803 minority nationalities, 125 foreigners.

  • These educated classes form only a small minority of the population.

  • But how do the poor minority fare?

More sentences

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Also Mentioned In

Words near minority in the Dictionary