minority

minority — noun

1. the numerically smaller portion of a group — for instance, when under half the m

1.nounB1
Definition

the numerically smaller portion of a group — for instance, when under half the members share a view or belong to a certain category

Example

Only a minority of students voted to extend the school day.

a minority of + plural noun for 'less than half'

Girls currently make up a small minority of the engineering students at the university.

make up a minority of + noun

Common collocations
  • small minority
  • tiny minority
  • vocal minority
  • a minority of
  • be in the minority
  • a minority of + noun
Synonyms
  • smaller portion

    more neutral; used for both countable and uncountable quantities

  • handful

    informal; suggests a very small number

  • less than half

    descriptive phrase that avoids the noun form

Antonyms
  • majority

    direct opposite; the larger part or number

  • most

    informal equivalent of the majority

Grammar Patterns

a minority of + noun

be in the minority

Common Mistakes

A minority of the cake was eaten.
A minority of voters supported the change.
minority refers to people or countable items within a group, not portions of a mass substance.
The minority of students disagree.
A minority of students disagree.
use the indefinite article a when no specific minority group has been mentioned before.

2. a segment of a society whose race, religion, language, or culture sets them apar

2.nounB1
Definition

a segment of a society whose race, religion, language, or culture sets them apart from the mainstream population — often resulting in unequal treatment or limited access to opportunities

Example

Taiwan's new employment programme offers training and job placements for ethnic minorities, including many Indigenous workers in rural towns.

ethnic minorities — most common compound noun

Adisa joined a student group that supports minority voices on campus.

minority + noun as modifier

Common collocations
  • ethnic minority
  • racial minority
  • religious minority
  • linguistic minority
  • minority group
  • minority community
  • minority rights
  • minority culture
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

ethnic/racial/religious + minority

minority + group/community

Usage Note

In Taiwan, this sense often appears in phrases like 族群 (zúqún) or 少數族群 (shǎoshù zúqún). When referring to individuals, 'person of minority background' or 'member of a minority group' sounds more natural than calling someone 'a minority.'

Common Mistakes

She is a minority.
She belongs to an ethnic minority group.
referring to a person as 'a minority' can sound impersonal; use a fuller phrase instead.

3. the legal condition or time during which a person is too young to have the full

3.nounC1
Definition

the legal condition or time during which a person is too young to have the full rights and responsibilities of an adult, such as voting or signing contracts

Example

Christopher managed his daughter's inheritance through a court-approved trust during her minority, as required by Ontario law.

during + possessive + minority

Japanese law says minority ends at eighteen, when a person can sign a lease alone.

period of minority

Common collocations
  • during minority
  • period of minority
  • in one's minority
Synonyms
  • underage

    everyday adjective for the same concept

  • nonage

    archaic legal term; rarely used today

Antonyms
  • majority

    the legal age of adulthood

  • adulthood

    the state of being a grown-up with full rights

Grammar Patterns

during (someone's) minority

period of minority

Usage Note

This sense is almost exclusively used in formal legal or historical writing. In everyday conversation, speakers use 'being a minor' or 'being underage' instead.

Common Mistakes

He is still in his minority.
He is still a minor.
the noun minority for underage status is rare in everyday speech; 'minor' or 'underage' is far more common.

4. a group, political party, or opinion that receives fewer votes than the oppositi

4.nounB2
Definition

a group, political party, or opinion that receives fewer votes than the opposition in an election or decision-making process

Example

The minority in Congress tried to block the bill through procedural delays.

the minority — the losing party in a legislative body

Although the committee voted twelve to four, the minority filed a strong dissenting opinion.

Common collocations
  • minority party
  • minority government
  • minority vote
  • minority leader
  • minority opinion
  • minority report
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the minority + noun

be in the minority

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to numbers alone ('a minority of the class'), while sense 4 specifically describes the losing side in a vote or election where a decision is made by counting ballots.

Common Mistakes

The minority in this classroom is three people.
The minority in Congress opposed the bill.
sense 4 is about voting bodies and political processes, not about general numerical comparisons.
Idioms

be in a/the minority

idiom

To be part of a group that is smaller than half of the total group.

In our class, left-handed students are in the minority.

Are women still in a minority in engineering jobs?

be in a minority of one

idiom

To be the only person who holds a certain opinion or makes a particular choice.

At the meeting, Maya was in a minority of one against the plan.

Diego found himself in a minority of one when he voted no.

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be in the minority
  • minority of one

Prepositions