minority group
Underrepresented social segment
A minority group is a segment of a population that differs from the dominant group in characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, or language, and typically holds less social or political power.
The term emphasizes relative power rather than raw numbers—women are sometimes called a minority group despite being half the population.
Minority groups have historically faced discrimination in housing and employment.
Deprived of voting rights
- underrepresentedInsufficiently present in proportion
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- excludedShut out, denied entry
silenced · invisible · peripheral · neglected · voiceless · disempowered · alienated · outcast
Shared cultural heritage group
- raceCompetition of speed
- populationAll inhabitants combined
- subgroupSmaller division within larger
- nationalityLegal belonging to country
diaspora · immigrants · refugees · indigenous · natives · census · statistics · age
Prejudice based on ethnicity
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- segregationForced separation by group
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
bias · stigma · disparity · inequity · stereotyping · scapegoating · xenophobia · antisemitism
State of varied elements
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- integrationCombining into a whole
- representationDepiction or likeness
equity · acceptance · belonging · tolerance · coexistence · accommodation · accessibility · mainstreaming
Inherited cultural legacy
- communityCollective of connected people
- belongingState of fitting in
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
intersectionality · code-switching · assimilation · acculturation · solidarity
Direct effort for reform
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- representationDepiction or likeness
- solidarityUnity among allies
coalition · grassroots · lobbying · protest · awareness · campaigns · reform · legislation
disenfranchised
Deprived of voting rights
- underrepresentedInsufficiently present in proportion
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
excluded · silenced · invisible · peripheral · neglected · voiceless · disempowered · alienated · outcast · second-class
ethnicity
Shared cultural heritage group
- raceCompetition of speed
- populationAll inhabitants combined
- subgroupSmaller division within larger
nationality · diaspora · immigrants · refugees · indigenous · natives · census · statistics · age · gender
racism
Prejudice based on ethnicity
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- segregationForced separation by group
exclusion · bias · stigma · disparity · inequity · stereotyping · scapegoating · xenophobia · antisemitism · profiling
diversity
State of varied elements
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- integrationCombining into a whole
representation · equity · acceptance · belonging · tolerance · coexistence · accommodation · accessibility · mainstreaming
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- communityCollective of connected people
- belongingState of fitting in
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
self-identification · intersectionality · code-switching · assimilation · acculturation · solidarity
activism
Direct effort for reform
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- representationDepiction or likeness
solidarity · coalition · grassroots · lobbying · protest · awareness · campaigns · reform · legislation · allyship
- culturesAmerican culture, African culture, Asian culture, British culture, Canadian culture
- outsidersoutcast, outsider, outcasts, pariah, misfit
- ethnic communitiesethnic enclave, immigrant community, indigenous community, tribal community, refugee community
- groupsteam, teams, club, clubs, gang
- demographicspopulation density, population growth, age distribution, population, gender ratio
- small communitieshamlet, village, small town, outpost, settlement
minority groupruling class
Dominant governing stratum
power elite · privileged class · establishment · in-group · dominant culture
group, majority, minority, minorities, majored, majoring, minored, minoring, majoritarian