Minority
/maɪˈnɒrəti/
Definitions
3 meaningsA smaller number or part; a group of people differing from the majority.
/maɪˈnɒrəti/
A smaller group or part of a whole.
The minority of students preferred online classes to in-person learning.
💡 Simply: Imagine a classroom with mostly kids who love soccer. But a few kids really love basketball! Those basketball lovers are the *minority* because there are fewer of them.
👶 For kids: When there are more of something than other things, the smaller amount is called a minority.
More Examples
The company is committed to increasing the representation of minorities in its workforce.
A vocal minority voiced their disapproval of the new policy.
How It's Used
"The rights of the minority are protected in a democracy."
"Only a minority of participants responded to the survey."
A group of people differing from the dominant group in race, religion, or ethnic origin.
/maɪˈnɒrəti/
A group of people distinguished from others by race, religion, ethnic origin, or other characteristics.
The city has a diverse population, including several cultural minorities.
💡 Simply: Think of a school with kids from many different countries. If some kids come from a specific place or have a different background compared to most of the other students, that group of kids might be a *minority*.
👶 For kids: A minority is a group of people who are different from most other people in a place.
More Examples
The company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, particularly for minority groups.
Many believe that it's important to protect the rights of all minorities.
How It's Used
"Efforts are being made to protect the rights of ethnic minorities."
"The senator championed legislation to benefit minority communities."
The state of being under the legal age of full rights and responsibilities.
/maɪˈnɒrəti/
The state of being under the legal age for certain rights and responsibilities.
The law protects the rights of those in the minority.
💡 Simply: When you're still a kid, you're in the *minority*. This means you can't do things like vote or sign contracts. When you become an adult, you're no longer in the minority.
👶 For kids: When you're not old enough to do things like vote or drive, you are in a minority.
More Examples
Parental consent is usually required for medical procedures performed on a person in their minority.
Legally, they are still in the minority, and cannot enter into contracts.
How It's Used
"The age of majority varies by jurisdiction, but under that age, one is considered a minor and in the minority."
"In most countries, those in their minority cannot vote."
Idioms & expressions
minority report
A report or statement that presents a different view or opinion from the majority or official position.
"The committee's findings included a minority report highlighting concerns about the project's financial viability."
From Latin *minor* ('smaller') + -ity (suffix denoting a state or condition), reflecting the idea of a smaller part or group.
The term has been used to describe groups or ideas distinct from the majority since the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think 'minor' (smaller) – a smaller *part* of something.