minority
/maɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/noun, adjective
minority is spelled M-I-N-O-R-I-T-Y: 8 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 26 times per million words in written English, the 3,558th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, minority means “The state or condition of being smaller, inferior, or subordinate to something or someone else; lesserness” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of minority is minorities.
How many letters and syllables are in minority?
| Letters | 8: M-I-N-O-R-I-T-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 26 times per million words; the 3,558th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is minority?
Minority appears 26 times per million words in written English, the 3,558th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce minority?
- UK /maɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/
- UK /mɪˈnɒɹ.ɪ.ti/
- US /maɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/
Minority has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-minority.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of minority
- minorities plural
- more minority comparative
- most minority superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does minority mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The state or condition of being smaller, inferior, or subordinate to something or someone else; lesserness.
- 2
The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood.
- 3
Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority.
Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.
- 4
USA member of an ethnic minority.
The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.
- 5
A group of people seen as distinct who are subordinated and discriminated against in a society.
- 6
IndiaA Muslim.
adjective
- 1
Of or relating to a minority.
They hold a minority interest in the company.
- 2
Empowered by or representing a minority (usually a plurality) of votes cast, legislative seats, etc., rather than an outright majority thereof.
minority government
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Minority in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | minorité , minoritaire |
| German | Minderheit, Minorität |
| Portuguese | minoria , menoridade |
| Spanish | minoría, minoridad , minoritario |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does minority come from?
From Late Middle English minoritie, from Middle French minorité, and its source Late Latin minōritās, from Latin minor. Morphologically minor + -ity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).