minority

少数派、少数

大きな集団の半分未満を占めるグループ。

やさしい英語で： A group that makes up less than half of a larger group.

• Only a minority voted against the plan.
• Women are still in the minority on this team.
• A small minority of customers complained.

使い方： a minority of someone/something (Only a minority of students chose French.); be in the minority (People who opposed the plan were in the minority.)

反対語： majority

よく使う表現： a small minority, in the minority, minority of something

少数民族の人

社会的または政治的な力が弱い民族集団に属する人。

やさしい英語で： A person belonging to an ethnic group with less social or political power.

• The company hired several minorities last year.
• She is the only minority on the board.
• The survey asked minorities about discrimination at work.

類義語： minority group member

よく使う表現： hire a minority, minorities and women

未成年期、未成年

法律で成人と認められる年齢に、まだ達していない期間。

やさしい英語で： The period when someone is legally too young to be an adult.

• A guardian managed his money during his minority.
• The trust covered the whole period of her minority.
• His minority ended when he reached the legal age.

類義語： childhood

反対語： adulthood

よく使う表現： during someone’s minority, period of minority

少数派の、少数民族の

ほかより人数が少ない、または力が弱い集団に関係する。

やさしい英語で： Connected with a group that is smaller or has less power than others.

• The school supports minority languages.
• She owns a minority interest in the company.
• Minority groups asked for stronger legal protection.

反対語： majority

よく使う表現： minority group, minority rights, minority interest

少数派の

票や議席の過半数を持たずに政権を担っている。

やさしい英語で： Holding power without having more than half the votes or seats.

• The party formed a minority government.
• A minority administration needs support from other parties.
• The election left the country under minority rule.

反対語： majority

よく使う表現： minority government, minority administration, minority rule