minority

Pronunciation: /maɪˈnɒrɪti/

noun

Definition of minority

minority (noun): The smaller number or part; a group differing from the majority

Example: Protecting the rights of minority groups is a cornerstone of democratic societies.

Best for: learners who already know "smaller group" or "few"; GRE Verbal (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence); SAT Reading & Writing (Words in Context).

Synonyms for minority

  • smaller group
  • few
  • subset

minority in a Sentence

  1. Protecting the rights of minority groups is a cornerstone of democratic societies.

Why minority Matters for GRE & SAT

"minority" is a noun that means "The smaller number or part; a group differing from the majority" closely related to words like "smaller group", "few", "subset". As a word starting with M, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "minority" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "minority" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (noun). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "minority" into long-term memory.

How to Remember minority

One effective way to remember "minority" (noun) is to group it with similar words you already know: "smaller group" and "few" and "subset". When you encounter "minority" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "The smaller number or part; a group differing from the major...".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "minority" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

  • Mendacious — Not telling the truth; lying or dishonest.
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • maintain — To cause or enable something to continue

More Vocabulary Words Starting with M

  • Mendacious — Not telling the truth; lying or dishonest.
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • maintain — To cause or enable something to continue