MINORITY

minority

(noun) being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts; “when the vote was taken they were in the minority”; “he held a minority position”

minority

(noun) a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part

minority, nonage

(noun) any age prior to the legal age

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

minority (countable and uncountable, plural minorities)

The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood. [from 15th c.]

Synonym: childhood

Antonym: adulthood

Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority. [from 18th c.]

Antonym: 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.]

Adjective

minority (comparative more minority, superlative most minority)

Of or relating to a minority.

Source: Wiktionary


Mi*nor"i*ty, n.; pl. Minorities. Etym: [Cf. F. minorité. See Minor, a. & n.]

1. The state of being a minor, or under age.

2. State of being less or small. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

3. The smaller number; -- opposed to Ant: majority; as, the minority must be ruled by the majority.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 May 2025

EARTHSHAKING

(adjective) sufficiently significant to affect the whole world; “earthshaking proposals”; “the contest was no world-shaking affair”; “the conversation...could hardly be called world-shattering”


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