MINORITY


Meaning of MINORITY in English

n.

Pronunciation: m ə - ' no ̇ r- ə -t ē , m ī -, - ' när-

Function: noun

Inflected Form: plural -ties

Usage: often attrib

Date: 15th century

1 a : the period before attainment of majority b : the state of being a legal minor

2 : the smaller in number of two groups constituting a whole specifically : a group having less than the number of votes necessary for control

3 a : a part of a population differing from others in some characteristics and often subjected to differential treatment b : a member of a minority group <an effort to hire more minorities >

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.