MINORITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does minority mean? 

• MINORITY (noun)
  The noun MINORITY has 3 senses:

1. a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part

2. being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts

3. any age prior to the legal age

  Familiarity information: MINORITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MINORITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("minority" is a kind of...):

social group (people sharing some social relation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

he held a minority position

Hypernyms ("minority" is a kind of...):

figure; number (the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals)

Attribute:

minor (inferior in number or size or amount)

Antonym:

majority (the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part)

Derivation:

minor (inferior in number or size or amount)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Any age prior to the legal age

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

minority; nonage

Hypernyms ("minority" is a kind of...):

legal status (a status defined by law)

age; eld (a time of life (usually defined in years) at which some particular qualification or power arises)

Antonym:

majority (the age at which persons are considered competent to manage their own affairs)

Derivation:

minor (not of legal age)

 Context examples 

Recurrences have been reported in a minority of cases.

(Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of carcinoma that comprises a minority of renal cell carcinomas.

(Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

A minority of the polyps are microvesicular variants of hyperplastic polyps.

(Colon Serrated Polyposis, NCI Thesaurus)

The majority of patients present with stage I tumor and a minority present with bilateral disease.

(Borderline Ovarian Mixed Epithelial Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Only a minority of tumors recur following complete resection.

(Benign Meningioma, NCI Thesaurus)

In a minority of cases, the necrosis appears spontaneously.

(Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis, NCI Thesaurus)

In a minority of cases androgenic manifestations are present.

(Ovarian Luteinized Thecoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Recurrences are reported only in a small minority of cases.

(Cutaneous Fibrous Histiocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

In a minority of cases it is bilateral.

(Ovarian Dermoid Cyst, NCI Thesaurus)

Health aid that is directed to minority groups.

(Minority Health and Assistance, Targeted, NCI Thesaurus)