English Explanatory Dictionary

minority

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The state or condition of being smaller, inferior, or subordinate to something or someone else; lesserness.
  2. The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood.
  3. Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority.
  4. A member of an ethnic minority.
  5. A group of people seen as distinct who are subordinated and discriminated against in a society.
  6. A Muslim.
adj
  1. Of or relating to a minority.
  2. Empowered by or representing a minority (usually a plurality) of votes cast, legislative seats, etc., rather than an outright majority thereof.

Pronunciation

/maɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/ /mɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/ /maɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/ /mɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/ /maɪˈnoɹ.ə.ti/ En-us-minority.ogg /maɪˈnɑ.ɹɪ.ti/ /mɪˈnɑ.ɹɪ.ti/ /mɑeˈnɔɹ.ə.ti/ /maɪˈnɒɹ.ə.ti/ [mɑe̯ˈnɔ̟ɹ.ə.ti] /majˈnɔrɪʈi/ /ˈmajnərɪʈi/

Word forms

minority minorities more minority most minority

Etymology

From Late Middle English minoritie, from Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minōritās, from Latin minor. Morphologically minor + -ity.

Synonyms

childhood

Antonyms

adulthood majority

Related words

minor quantifier

Derived words

antiminority ethnic minority gender minority invisible minority majority-minority minoritarian minoritary minoritize minority cabinet minority council minority dominance minority domination minority government minority group minorityhood minority language minority leader minority report minority rule model minority nonminority sexual minority subminority superminority visible minority vocal minority
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