minority
gb/maɪnˈɔɹəti/ us/maɪnˈɔɹəti/
B1
English
~ 2100
kisebbség, kiskorúság
NOUN
B1
1
kisebbség
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is a minority in [place/group]
The law protects the rights of ethnic minorities.
A törvény védi az etnikai kisebbségek jogait.
Religious minorities often face discrimination in some countries.
A vallási kisebbségeket egyes országokban gyakran éri hátrányos megkülönböztetés.
She belongs to a linguistic minority in her region.
Minorities make up about 20% of the city's population.
The committee includes representatives from various minority groups.
Learner examples
The school has many students from ethnic minorities.
Az iskolában sok etnikai kisebbséghez tartozó diák van.
He is part of a small minority in his town.
A városában egy kis létszámú kisebbség tagja.
Minorities can have different traditions.
The government helps minority communities.
Minority rights are important.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'minority' with 'minor', but 'minor' means 'not adult' or 'less important'.
Meaning
Smaller group within a population
Collocations
ethnic minority
|religious minority
|minority group
|minority community
|minority rights
Synonyms
subgroup (More general and not necessarily implying social or political context.)
Antonyms
majority (Refers to the larger part of a population or group, opposite in size to a minority.)
Themes
society
|politics
|culture
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A smaller group of people in a country or area, often different in race, religion, or culture from the main group.
A group of people who are fewer in number compared to the larger population, often with distinct characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, or culture.
NOUN
C1
2
kiskorúság
C1
Usage pattern:
in [someone's] minority
He inherited the estate upon reaching his majority, ending his minority.
Amikor elérte a nagykorúságot, megörökölte a birtokot, és ezzel véget ért a kiskorúsága.
During her minority, her parents managed her finances.
Kiskorúsága idején a szülei kezelték a pénzügyeit.
The law protects individuals during their minority from certain responsibilities.
Learner examples
He cannot vote because he is still in his minority.
Kiskorúsága miatt nem szavazhat.
In her minority, her parents take care of her money.
Kiskorúsága idején a szülei kezelik a pénzét.
You cannot marry without permission during your minority.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'minority' here means 'small group', but it refers to age status.
Meaning
Being under legal adulthood age
Collocations
reach minority
|during minority
Synonyms
childhood (Refers to early life in general, not specifically a legal status.)
Antonyms
adulthood (The stage of being legally recognized as an adult.)
Themes
law
|life stages
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time when someone is not yet an adult by law.
The condition of being below the age at which a person is legally considered an adult.
Grammar
Dictionary form
minority
IPA
GB/maɪnˈɔɹəti/
US/maɪnˈɔɹəti/
Syllables & stress
minor - ity (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: minority
- Plural: minorities, minority
Word family
Expressions
minority rights
1/maɪnˈɔɹəti ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
Rights protecting smaller groups
Rules and freedoms that protect smaller groups of people in a country.
Examples
- The organization works to promote minority rights.
- Minority rights are often discussed in human rights conferences.
religious minority
1/ɹɪlˈɪd͡ʒəs maɪnˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
Smaller religious group in society
A small group of people who follow a religion that is different from most people around them.
Examples
- Religious minorities are guaranteed freedom of worship under the constitution.
- He studies the history of religious minorities in the region.
visible minority
1/vˈɪzɪbəl maɪnˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
Smaller group visibly different from majority
A small group of people who look different from most people in the country because of their race or ethnicity.
Examples
- In Canada, visible minorities make up a significant portion of the population.
- She identifies as part of a visible minority.
ethnic minority
1/ˈɛθnɪk maɪnˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
Smaller cultural group in population
A small group in a country with a different culture from most people there.
Examples
- The country has policies to protect its ethnic minorities.
- Ethnic minorities are represented in the new parliament.
- She belongs to an ethnic minority that speaks a unique language.
- Policies aim to protect ethnic minority rights.