minority
/maɪˈnɒrətɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- the smaller number or part, especially a number which is less than half the whole number少数：
harsher measures for the minority of really serious offenders
对少数违规十分严重者的更严厉措施
as modifier a minority party.少数党。
1.1
- the number of votes cast for or by the smaller party in a legislative assembly（议会）少数党得（或投）的票：
a blocking minority of 23 votes.
少数党阻碍（议案）的23票。
1.2
- a relatively small group of people, especially one commonly discriminated against in a community, society, or nation, differing from others in race, religion, language, or political persuasion少数民族：
representatives of ethnic minorities
少数民族代表
as modifier minority rights.少数民族权利。
2
- mass noun the state or period of being under the age of full legal responsibility未成年, 未及法定年龄; 未成年身份。
短语
be（或find oneself）in a minority of one
- often humorous be the sole person to be in favour of or against something〈常幽默〉是孤家寡人; 得不到任何支持。
in the minority
- belonging to or constituting the smaller group or number属少数派; 占少数的。
词源
late 15th cent. (denoting the state of being a minor)： from French minorité or medieval Latin minoritas, from Latin minor 'smaller' （see MINOR）.