MINORITY


Meaning of MINORITY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ mə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē, mī-, -ˈnär- ]

noun

( plural -ties )

Usage: often attributive

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's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.