minority
meye-NOR-ih-tee
Minority (noun) means a smaller part of a larger group, especially as a proportion of votes, opinions, or numbers. Example: “Only a minority of voters supported the proposal.”
noun
1
A smaller part of a larger group, especially as a proportion of votes, opinions, or numbers.
"Only a minority of voters supported the proposal."
"A small minority of the staff disagreed with the new timetable."
"The minority of members who voted against the plan asked for a second meeting."
2
A group of people distinguished by ethnicity, religion, or other traits, who make up a smaller and often disadvantaged part of a larger society.
"The organization advocates for the rights of ethnic minorities."
"The school teaches pupils to respect people from every minority in the city."
"Many members of a religious minority feel their voices are not heard."
adj
1
Relating to, or held by, a smaller group rather than the majority.
"It was a minority opinion within the committee."
"The council is run by a minority government that needs help to pass laws."
"She wrote a minority report because she disagreed with the rest of the panel."
How to use minority
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe smaller part of a group, or a group that is smaller and often marginalized within a wider population.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ethnic minority
minority group
in the minority
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Word forms
- Plural
- minorities
- Comparative
- more minority
- Superlative
- most minority
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Only a _____ of voters supported the proposal.
Etymology
From Middle French minorité, tracing to Late Latin minoritas, built on the Latin root minor, "lesser."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for minority
See all rhymes for minority →Frequently asked questions
What does “minority” mean?
The word “minority” means a smaller part of a larger group, especially as a proportion of votes, opinions, or numbers. In plain terms, the smaller part of a group, or a group that is smaller and often marginalized within a wider population.
How do you pronounce “minority”?
“Minority” is pronounced meye-NOR-ih-tee (/maɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “minority” in a sentence?
Here is “minority” used in a sentence: “Only a minority of voters supported the proposal.”
What part of speech is “minority”?
Depending on how it is used, “minority” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “minority” come from?
The word “minority” comes from Late Latin. From Middle French minorité, tracing to Late Latin minoritas, built on the Latin root minor, "lesser.".
Is “minority” a common word?
“Minority” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “minority” have?
“Minority” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a smaller part of a larger group, especially as a proportion of votes, opinions, or numbers.
What is the difference between minority and majority?
A minority is the smaller part of a group, less than half the total, while a majority is the larger part, more than half. In a vote, the majority holds the most support and usually prevails, and the minority is the side with fewer numbers. The two words are direct opposites in size and proportion.
What are the meanings of minority?
Minority carries two main senses. Numerically, it means the smaller portion of any group, as in a minority of voters. Socially, it refers to a group that is smaller or less dominant within a population, often defined by ethnicity, religion, or other shared traits. A third, legal sense means being under the age of adulthood.
Is minority a positive or negative word?
Minority is neutral in itself, simply describing the smaller share of a group. Its tone depends on context. In voting it just marks the losing or smaller side, while in social discussion it can carry connotations of disadvantage or underrepresentation. The word itself passes no judgment; the surrounding meaning supplies any positive or negative colour.
What is an example of a minority?
If sixty people vote yes and forty vote no, the forty form the minority. In a parliament, the party with fewer seats is the minority. Socially, a community that makes up a small share of a country's population, such as a religious or ethnic group, is often described as a minority.
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