minority
smaller part / underrepresented group
[C/U] Both
pl: minorities
This term carries a strong sociopolitical weight. While it can describe a simple mathematical imbalance in a vote or a survey, it frequently invokes themes of power dynamics, marginalization, and systemic inequality when applied to human populations.
In a legal or social context, the word often suggests a vulnerability to the will of the majority, shifting the focus from mere quantity to the quality of representation and influence within a society.
Countable when referring to a specific group of people with a shared characteristic, such as a religious minority. Uncountable when referring to the abstract state of being the smaller part of a whole.