minority

From Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minoritas, from Latin minor.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /maɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/, /mɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /maɪˈnɔɹ.ɪ.ti/, /mɪˈnɔɹ.ɪ.ti/
• (NYC) IPA^(key): /maɪˈnɑɹ.ɪ.ti/, /mɪˈnɑɹ.ɪ.ti/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒɹɪti

minority (countable and uncountable, plural minorities)

1. 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.

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

   Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.

   • 2017 August 25, "Arrest threat as Yingluck Shinawatra misses verdict", in aljazeera.com, Al Jazeera:

     The case is the latest chapter in a decade-long struggle by the nation's elite minority to crush the powerful political machine founded by Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in another coup in 2006.

3. (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.
4. (US) A member of an ethnic minority. [from 20th c.]

   The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.

• (youth): childhood

• (subgroup): majority
• (youth): adulthood

minority (comparative more minority, superlative most minority)

1. Of or relating to a minority.

   They hold a minority interest in the company.