- 1 [singular + singular or plural verb] the smaller part of a group; less than half of the people or things in a large group Only a small minority of students is/are interested in politics these days. For a minority, the decision was a disappointment. minority shareholders in the bank opposite majority Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelarge, significant, sizeable, … verb + minoritybelong to, discriminate against, target, … minority + nounopinion, view, rights, … prepositionamong a/the minority, from a/the minority, in a/the minority, … phrasesonly a minority See full entry See related entries: Social justice
- 2 [countable] a small group within a community or country that is different because of race, religion, language, etc. the rights of ethnic/racial minorities minority languages a large German-speaking minority in the east of the country (North American English) The school is 95 per cent minority (= 95 per cent of children are not white Americans but from different groups). (North American English) minority neighborhoods (= where no or few white people live) CollocationsRace and immigrationPrejudice and racism experience/encounter racism/discrimination/prejudice/anti-semitism face/suffer persecution/discrimination fear/escape from/flee racial/political/religious persecution constitute/be a form of racial/race discrimination reflect/reveal/show/have a racial/cultural bias be biased/be prejudiced against (especially British English) black people/(both especially North American English) people of color/African Americans/Asians/Africans/Indians, etc. discriminate against minority groups/minorities perpetuate/conform to/fit/defy a common/popular/traditional/negative stereotype overcome/be blinded by deep-seated/racial/(especially North American English) race prejudice entrench/perpetuate racist attitudes hurl/shout (especially British English) racist abuse; (especially North American English) a racist/racial/ethnic slur challenge/confront racism/discrimination/prejudice combat/fight (against)/tackle blatant/overt/covert/subtle/institutional/systemic racismRace and society damage/improve (especially British English) race relations practise/ (especially US English) practice (racial/religious) tolerance/segregation bridge/break down/transcend cultural/racial barriers encourage/promote social integration outlaw/end discrimination/slavery/segregation promote/embrace/celebrate cultural diversity conform to/challenge/violate (accepted/established/prevailing/dominant) social/cultural norms live in a multicultural society attack/criticize multiculturalism fight for/struggle for/promote racial equality perpetuate/reinforce economic and social inequality introduce/be for/be against (British English) positive discrimination/(especially North American English) affirmative action support/be active in/play a leading role in the civil rights movementImmigration control/restrict/limit/encourage immigration attract/draw a wave of immigrants assist/welcome refugees house/shelter refugees and asylum seekers smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK deport/repatriate illegal immigrants/failed asylum seekers assimilate/integrate new immigrants employ/hire migrant workers exploit/rely on (cheap/illegal) immigrant labour/(especially US English) labor apply for/gain/obtain/be granted/be denied (full) citizenship have/hold dual citizenship Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelarge, significant, sizeable, … verb + minoritybelong to, discriminate against, target, … minority + nounopinion, view, rights, … prepositionamong a/the minority, from a/the minority, in a/the minority, … phrasesonly a minority See full entry See related entries: Race
- 3[uncountable] (law) the state of being under the age at which you are legally an adult When his minority ended he had to fight to reclaim his property. Word Originlate 15th cent. (in sense (3)): from French minorité or medieval Latin minoritas, from Latin minor ‘smaller’.Extra examples Only a tiny minority of products are affected. Qualified minority applicants are highly sought after. We are in the minority on this issue. You are definitely among the minority. a sizeable minority of the population people from ethnic minorities the view of a small but vociferous minorityIdioms
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//maɪˈnɒrəti//; NAmE NAmE//maɪˈnɔːrəti//
(pl. minorities) Race, Social justice to form much less than half of a large group Men are in the minority in this profession.
(often humorous) to be the only person to have a particular opinion or to vote a particular way
Check pronunciation: minority
