| 释义 |
mi·nor·i·ty
I. \mə̇ˈnȯrəd.ē, mīˈ-, -när-, -ətē, -i\ noun
(-es)
Etymology: Medieval Latin minoritat-, minoritas, from Latin minor smaller + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. : the state of being a legal minor : the period of being under full legal age — compare infancy
2.
a. : the smaller in number of two aggregates that together constitute a whole
< barred from all but a tiny minority of cinemas — Roger Manvell >
< ten of our presidents have had only a minority of the popular vote behind them — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray >
b. : the smaller in number of two groups that together constitute a larger entity
< only a small minority of students is majoring in a basic subject — W.H.Whyte >
specifically : a group (as in a legislative body) having less than the number of votes necessary for control
< dividing each constituency … into two halves, the majority to govern and the minority to criticize — C.J.Friedrich >
3. or minority group : a group characterized by a sense of separate identity and awareness of status apart from a usually larger group of which it forms or is held to form a part: as
a. : a body of nationals of a state forming a small but appreciable part of the population of another and usually neighboring state
< peasants in eastern Europe … wanting a guarantee that the evicted German minorities shall never return — A.J.Toynbee >
b. : a group differing from the predominant section of a larger group in one or more characteristics (as ethnic background, language, culture, or religion) and as a result often subjected to differential treatment and especially discrimination
< the constitution protects the rights of individuals and of minorities — Luis Muñoz Marín >
c. : a group numerically smaller than other groups or a combination of other groups in a community but constituting the predominant element
< whites have frequently been dominant minorities — H.O.Dahlke >
II. adjective
: of, relating to, or being a minority
< an advisory committee on minority housing — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union >
< each committee is … composed of majority and minority members — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray >
< minority races >
< minority rule >
III. noun
: a member of a minority group |