minority

mi|nor|i|ty

W2S3 [maıˈnɔrıti US mıˈno:-, mıˈna:-] n plural minorities

1.) [singular also + plural verb]

a small group of people or things within a much larger group

≠ ↑majority

▪ Gaelic is still spoken in Ireland by a tiny minority.

minority of

▪ A small minority of young people does drink excessively.

▪ Only a minority of people support these new laws.

small/tiny/substantial/significant minority

▪ Gay men are a small but significant minority.

minority report

(=a report by a minority of a group who do not agree with the others)

2.) [C usually plural]

a) a group of people of a different race, religion etc from most other people in that country

▪ People from ethnic minorities often face prejudice and discrimination.

▪ the very large Russian minorities in Ukraine and Moldova

▪ children from minority groups

▪ the teaching of minority languages in schools

minority leader/businessman/student etc AmE

▪ a school with a high proportion of minority students

b) AmE someone who belongs to a group like this

▪ Businesses are under pressure to hire minorities and women.

3.) be in the/a minority

to form less than half of a group

▪ Boys are very much in the minority at the dance class.

4.) be in a minority of one

to be the only person in a group who has a particular opinion

5.) [U] law

the period of time when someone is below the age at which they become legally responsible for their actions