If you talk about a minority of people or things in a larger group, you are referring to a number of them that forms less than half of the larger group, usually much less than half.
Local authority nursery provision covers only a tiny minority of working mothers. [+ of]
These children are only a small minority.
...minority shareholders.
See in a/the minority
2. countable noun
A minority is a group of people of the same race, culture, or religion who live in a place where most of the people around them are of a different race, culture,or religion.
...the region's ethnic minorities.
Students have called for greater numbers of women and minorities on the faculty.
A final settlement must respect minority rights.
minority in British English
(maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ, mɪ-)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups
2.
a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of whichit is a part
3.
a.
the state of being a minor
b.
the period during which a person is below legal age
Compare majority
4. (modifier)
relating to or being a minority
a minority interest
a minority opinion
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin minōritās, from Latin minor
minority in American English
(maɪˈnɔrəti; mɪˈnɔrəti; maɪˈnɑrəti; mɪˈnɑrəti)
nounWord forms: pluralmiˈnorities
1.
the lesser part or smaller number; less than half of a total
2.
a group, party, or faction with a smaller number of votes or adherents than the majority
3.
a racial, religious, ethnic, or political group smaller than and differing from the larger, controlling group in a community, nation, etc.
4.
the period or condition of being under full legal age
Word origin
ML minoritas < L minor, minor
COBUILD Collocations
minority
oppressed minority
persecuted minority
religious minority
significant minority
sizeable minority
substantial minority
vocal minority
Examples of 'minority' in a sentence
minority
Critics called the super centres an elite project for a tiny minority.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The behaviour of a small minority in business is damaging the reputation of business as a whole and that needs to be addressed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A small minority in the media should not be listened to.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's as if we're still seen as a minority group instead of half the population.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We became one of a privileged, tiny minority, simply by the act of bothering.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Glass cliff A situation in which a woman or member of a minority group gets a leadership position where the risk of failure is high.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We fail on all these counts and minority groups know it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The introduction of the idea of two simple minority blocks is for the purposes of illustration only.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
Wide discretion has to be exercised in selecting the tiny minority against whom proceedings are taken.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They are not the only minority religion in the region.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
More women and minorities watch football live than before.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most ethnic minority groups were on average more likely to attend selective universities than white pupils.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The only doctors facing a pay cut are the small minority working unsafe hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is why minority groups devote so much of their efforts to campaigning for cumulative voting.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
Are there similarities between the two minority parties?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Only a tiny minority can fulfil expectations.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Over here we are leaning over far too much for some of these minority religions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Thankfully only a small minority of young people behave in this way.
The Sun (2012)
Women and ethnic minorities can resist it because they want to be seen to get on through ability only.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
minority
British English: minority /maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ; mɪ-/ NOUN
If you talk about a minority of people or things in a larger group, you are referring to a number of them that forms less than half of the larger group.