minority

Everyday

1. A minority is the smaller number or part of a group, less than half. tree →
2. A minority (group) is a group of people who are different in race, religion, language or culture from most people in a country. tree →
3. (law) The time when a person is still a child in law (under eighteen in most places). tree →

In the lessons

In maths and data lessons, «a minority» means fewer than half: if 8 of 30 pupils like sprouts, they are a minority. In citizenship lessons, laws protect the rights of minorities. In voting, the minority loses but should still be respected. Phrases: «in the minority», «a small minority», «ethnic minority», «minority language», «minority government».

Examples

• Only a minority of the class wanted to stay inside. tree →
• People who like broccoli are in the minority here. tree →
• Welsh is a minority language in the UK. tree →
• The law protects religious minorities. tree →
• A small minority of fans behaved badly. tree →
• If 12 out of 30 children chose red, red was the choice of a minority. tree →
• The party formed a minority government. tree →

Note

Countable; plural «minorities». Opposite: majority (more than half). Maths: a minority is less than 50 per cent of the whole; with exactly half, there is no majority or minority. A minority is not less important.