minority

UK: /maɪˈnɒrɪti/

US: /mɪˈnɔrɪti, -ˈnɑr-, maɪ-/

US: (mi nôr′i tē, -nor′, -mī-)

Inflections of 'minority' (n): npl: minorities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mi•nor•i•ty /mɪˈnɔrɪti, -ˈnɑr-, maɪ-/   n., pl. -ties, adj. 
n. 

1. a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole:
   [countable] He got a minority of the votes in the first election.
2. Government a smaller group opposed to a majority:
   [countable] a minority of stockholders.
3. Sociology Also called miˈnor•i•ty ˌgroup. a group differing, esp. in race, religion, or ethnic background, from the majority of a population:
   [countable] Can the rights of minorities be guaranteed?
4. Sociology a member of such a group:
   [countable] made an effort to hire more minorities.
5. [uncountable] the state or period of being under full legal age.

adj. [before a noun]

6. Sociology of or relating to a minority:
   a minority opinion.

See -min-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mi•nor•i•ty  (mi nôr′i tē, -nor′, -mī-), n., pl. -ties, adj. 
n. 

1. the smaller part or number;
   a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.
2. Government a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action.
3. Sociology a group differing, esp. in race, religion, or ethnic background, from the majority of a population:
   legislation aimed at providing equal rights for minorities.
4. Sociology a member of such a group.
5. the state or period of being under the legal age of full responsibility.

adj. 

6. Sociology of or pertaining to a minority.

• Medieval Latin minōritās. See minor, -ity
• 1525–35

Synonyms

• 5. childhood, boyhood, girlhood.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

minority / maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ mɪ-/ noun ( -ties)

1. the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups
2. a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of which it is a part
3. the state of being a minor
4. the period during which a person is below legal age
5. (modifier) relating to or being a minority: a minority interest, a minority opinion

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin minōritās, from Latin minor