minority
n.
smaller group as opposed to the majority; part of a population differing in some characteristic (race, sex, etc.); state of being under legal age
Minority group
A minority or subordinate group is a
sociological group that does not constitute a politically dominant
plurality of the total population of a given society. A sociological minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant group in terms of
social status,
education,
employment,
wealth and
political power. To avoid confusion, some writers prefer the terms "subordinate group" and "dominant group" rather than "minority" and "majority".
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minority
Noun
1. a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part
(hypernym) social group
2. being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts; "when the vote was taken they were in the minority"; "he held a minority position"
(antonym) majority, bulk
(hypernym) number, figure
(attribute) minor
3. any age prior to the legal age
(synonym) nonage
(antonym) majority, legal age
(hypernym) age, eld
Minority
(a. & n.)
The state of being a minor, or under age.
(a. & n.)
The smaller number; -- opposed to majority; as, the minority must be ruled by the majority.
(a. & n.)
State of being less or small.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
Minor, Minority
MINOR - A person who does not have the legal rights of an adult. A minor is usually defined as someone who has not yet reached the age of majority. In most states, a person reaches majority and acquires all of the rights and responsibilities of an adult when he or she turns 18.
One under the age of majority, usually 21 or 18 years of age, while in a state of infancy; one who has not attained the age of a major. The terms major and minor, are more particularly used in the civil law. The common law terms are adult and infant.
MINORITY - The state or condition of a minor; infancy. In another sense, it signifies the lesser number of votes of a deliberative assembly; opposed to majority.
This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.
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