monority

A child from a monority group wears traditional clothing at a cultural festival.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small group within a larger population: "minority" refers to a group of people who differ from the majority in race, religion, ethnicity, or other characteristics, often with fewer numbers or less power.
   • The state of being underage: "minority" also means the legal status of being a minor (a person under the age of adulthood).
   • A smaller number or part: "minority" can refer to any number or portion that is less than half of a total.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The government protects the rights of every minority. (A group with fewer members or less influence in society.)
  • She was in her minority when she inherited the estate. (She was under the legal age of adulthood.)
  • Only a minority of voters supported the new law. (A small part of the total voters.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in the minority": to belong to a group that is smaller than the majority.

  • In this committee, women are in the minority. (Women make up less than half of the members.)

• "minority government": a government formed by a party that has fewer than half the seats in a parliament.

  • The ruling party formed a minority government after the election. (They did not win a majority of seats.)

Variants and Related Words

• Minor (adj/n): smaller in size, importance, or age; a person under the legal age of adulthood.

  • He is still a minor, so he cannot vote. (He is under 18 or 21, depending on the jurisdiction.)

• Minority rule: a system where a small group holds power over a larger population.

  • Apartheid was a form of minority rule. (A white minority controlled the government.)

Synonyms

• Small group: a collection of people that is few in number.
• Underage: the condition of being below the legal age of majority.
• Lesser part: a portion that is smaller than half.

Related Idioms

• "Minority report": a dissenting opinion or alternative view presented by a minority within a group.

  • The committee published a minority report opposing the majority decision. (A separate statement from a smaller faction.)

• "Silent minority": a group that is small but does not speak out or express its views.

  • The silent minority often goes unnoticed in public debates. (A quiet, less vocal group.)

Note: The word "minority" is often misspelled as "monority" (as in your query). The correct spelling is minority, with an "i" after the "n". The definition above is for "minority" as a standard English term.