minority
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a part of a group that is less than half of the total number.
n.a numerical subgroup that constitutes less than half of the total population or sample.
Simple“Only a small minority of students disagreed with the new school rules.”
In context“While the proposal had significant support, a vocal minority of shareholders expressed concerns regarding the long-term debt implications.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of people who have a different race, religion, or culture from most other people in a country.
n.a demographic group that is differentiated from the social majority by race, religion, or ethnicity, often facing systemic disadvantage.
Simple“The government is working to protect the rights of every ethnic minority in the country.”
In context“The study examines how minority communities maintain their cultural heritage while navigating the pressures of the dominant social landscape.”
Synonymsmarginalised group - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the time in your life before you are legally an adult.
n.the state or period of being a legal minor, prior to reaching the age of majority.
Simple“The prince inherited the throne during his minority, so his mother ruled for him.”
In context“The legal documents were held in a trust that would remain active throughout the heir's minority until he reached the age of twenty-one.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing something that belongs to or represents a smaller group.
adj.pertaining to or representing a numerical minority, often used in political contexts.
Simple“The party formed a minority government because they did not have enough seats to rule alone.”
In context“The coalition struggled to pass legislation as a minority administration, requiring constant negotiation with independent members of parliament.”
Antonyms
Usage minority ethnic · minority populations · ethnic minority
“There is a particular tension to being a black or minority journalist in a white-majority culture, whether here or in the US, Europe or Australia.”
“To understand why, researcher Joanne Sopt and I reviewed 81 studies examining how minority students globally have been supported over decades, from university entry to professional accounting practice.”
From Late Middle English minoritie, from Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minōritās, from Latin minor. Morphologically minor + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.