minority
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minoritas, from Latin minor.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
minority (plural minorities)
- The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood. [from 15th c.]
- 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin 2012, p. 117:
- She also played a key role as dowager-regent during the minority of her son.
- 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin 2012, p. 117:
- Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority. [from 18th c.]
- Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.
- (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.]
- The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.
Synonyms[edit]
- (youth): childhood
Antonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Terms derived from minority
Related terms[edit]
Terms etymologically related to minority
Translations[edit]
subgroup that does not form a numerical majority
|
|
member of an ethnic minority
|
|
period or condition of a person prior to reaching adulthood
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
|
|
