minority
noun uk/maɪˈnɒr.ə.ti/ us/maɪˈnɔːr.ə.t̬i/
(SMALL PART)
B2 [ S ]少数
a smaller number or part
It's only a tiny minority of people who are causing the problem. 惹麻烦的只是极少数人。
Children with single parents at my school were very much in the minority (= there were very few). 在我的学校里单亲孩子只占极少数。
This section of the bookstore caters for minority interests (= subjects that interest only a few people). 书店的这一专柜主要满足少数读者的兴趣。
Opposite: majority
- More examples
- Because the two main parties have won almost the same number of votes, the minority group holds the key to the result.
- The fact that a party can be voted into power by a minority of the electorate calls into question the country's electoral system.
- It's a minority of these people who are causing trouble.
- Those who want violence are in the minority.
- In a minority of cases, a prison sentence is appropriate.
(PEOPLE)
C1 [ C ]少数民族;少数派;少数民族人士;少数派人士
any small group in society that is different from the rest because of their race, religion, or political beliefs, or a person who belongs to such a group
ethnic/religious minorities 少数民族／宗教少数派
The plan was designed to help women and minorities overcome discrimination in the workplace. 这一计划旨在帮助女性和少数群体克服在工作场所受到的歧视。
- More examples
- Government by majority rule can be a threat to minority rights.
- Human rights activists have accused the country's government of a systematic perpetration of violence against minority groups.
- Outraged minority groups will not be placated by promises of future improvements.
- They are members of a racial minority.
- What are the prospects for overcoming the strife between the Christian minority and Muslim majority?
Idiom
be in a minority of oneidiom UK (US be a minority of one) 是唯一持不同意见者;得不到任何人的支持
to be the only person who has a particular opinion