minorities
n. countablen. small groups of people within a larger society who are different from the majority because of their race, religion, or culture. These groups often have less power or fewer members than the main group.
n. subgroups of a population that differ from the dominant majority in terms of ethnicity, religion, language, or political identity. Often used in sociological contexts to discuss groups that face systemic disadvantage or lack social power.
The government passed new laws to protect the rights of minorities.
The university offers several scholarships specifically designed to support students from underrepresented ethnic minorities in the engineering department.
Sociologists argue that the protection of minorities is a fundamental pillar of a healthy democracy, ensuring that the interests of the few are not overwhelmed by the will of the many.
Usually used in the plural to refer to various distinct groups within a society.