minority
UK/maɪ'nɔrəti/US/mai'nɒriti/
NGSL 2kIELTSTOEFLB1
Definitions
n.
The smaller part or number; less than half.
少数，小部分（不到一半）。
n.
A racial, ethnic, or social group smaller than the main one.
少数群体；少数民族。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedminorsmall, less, diminish
+
-ityone who does, agent
=minority
minor ('lesser') + -ity ('state of') = 'the state of being the smaller group.' It splits into the abstract 'less than half' (the proposal lost by a minority) and the social sense 'a smaller group within a larger population' (an ethnic minority). Directly opposite to majority.
Common Collocations
- 1.a small minority一小部分人
- 2.ethnic minority少数民族
- 3.minority group少数群体
- 4.in the minority占少数
Example Sentences
- 1.
Only a small minority opposed the new plan.
- 2.
The law protects the rights of ethnic minorities.