Meaning & use
minority
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Meanings
nounsingular
The smaller part of a group, fewer than half of its members.
Grammar: Often with a: a minority of voters. The verb may be singular or plural.
Patterns
- a minority of something
- in the minority
Only a minority of students walked to school.
The idea had support from a small minority of members.
She found herself in the minority when the vote came.
nouncountable
A group of people who differ from most of the population in race, religion, language or culture, often with less power.
Grammar: Has a plural: ethnic minorities. Often used before a noun: minority rights.
Patterns
- an ethnic minority
- minority rights
The law protects the rights of every minority.
Several minorities live in the northern region.
Schools should reflect the minority communities nearby.
noununcountablelegal
In law, the period of life before a person reaches the age of adult responsibility.
Grammar: Formal and uncountable: during his minority.
Patterns
- during someone's minority
The estate was managed by trustees during the heir's minority.
She signed the contract during her minority, so it could be challenged.
Rules on property apply differently during minority.
Word forms
| plural | minorities |
|---|
Common combinations
- ethnic minority
- The city has a large ethnic minority population.
- in the minority
- He was in the minority on the committee.
- a tiny minority
- Only a tiny minority objected to the plan.
- minority group
- The organization supports each minority group.
- minority rights
- Minority rights are written into the constitution.
- minority government
- A minority government needs support from other parties.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fewer
- Fewer is a comparison word, whereas minority names the group or portion itself.
- small number
- A small number is plain and neutral, while minority implies a contrast with a larger majority.
- subgroup
- A subgroup is a smaller part within a larger group and does not suggest less power as minority often does.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: minority or majority? minority or minority vs. minors?
minority vs majority
Majority is the larger part; minority is the smaller part.
minority vs minority vs. minors
Minors are individual children under the legal age, while a minority is a group.
Practice
In an election, 40% of voters supported a candidate who lost. These voters were:
Choose one answer.
Forty percent is fewer than half, so they form a minority. A majority would be more than half.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “minority”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.