Dictionary

minority

Pronunciation

Noun

minority

The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood. [from 15th c.]
- 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin 2012, p. 117:
  She also played a key role as dowager-regent during the minority of her son.
Synonyms: childhood
Antonyms: adulthood
Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority. [from 18th c.]
Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.
- 2017 August 25, "Arrest threat as Yingluck Shinawatra misses verdict ↗", in aljazeera.com, Al Jazeera
  The case is the latest chapter in a decade-long struggle by the nation's elite minority to crush the powerful political machine founded by Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in another coup in 2006.
Antonyms: majority
(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.
(US) A member of an ethnic minority. [from 20th c.]
The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.

Related terms

Translations

Translations

Adjective

minority

Of or relating to a minority.
They hold a minority interest in the company.

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