majority, plurality, minority
- majority, plurality, minority
One meaning of
majority is "more than half."
Plurality means "the highest number within a given number," "the excess of votes received by the leader over the next candidate when three or more are competing." If Joe got eighty votes, Jack sixty, and Bill forty, Joe would have a
plurality of twenty but not a
majority because he received fewer than half the votes cast.
Majority is often used as a loose substitute for
many. In this context,
minority means a number, amount, or part forming less than half of the whole.
Minority also applies to a group differing in ethnic background, race, or religion from the
majority of a population."The Democrats form the
majority party in this county." "To win this election, you will need a
plurality of the votes, not necessarily a
majority." "In this state, Chinese-Americans are a
minority group."
See also bulk.
Dictionary of problem words and expressions.
Harry Shaw.
1975.
Look at other dictionaries:
plurality — See majority. See majority, plurality, minority … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
minority — See majority. See majority, plurality, minority … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
majority — See majority, plurality, minority … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
majority — /meuh jawr i tee, jor /, n., pl. majorities. 1. the greater part or number; the number larger than half the total (opposed to minority): the majority of the population. 2. a number of voters or votes, jurors, or others in agreement, constituting… … Universalium
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majority — ma·jor·i·ty /mə jȯr ə tē/ n pl ties 1 a: legal age b: the status of one who has reached legal age 2 a: a number or quantity greater than half of a total compare plu … Law dictionary
Minority (disambiguation) — Minority is generally referred as a sub group forming neither a majority nor a plurality of the total population, but may also refer to:* Minority (philosophy), a concept coined by philosopher Gilles Deleuze * Minority (song), by punk rock band… … Wikipedia
majority — [n1] plurality, most best part*, bulk, greater number, greater part, larger part, lion’s share*, mass, max*, more, more than half*, preponderance, superiority; concepts 766,829,835 Ant. minority, secondary majority [n2] adulthood age of consent,… … New thesaurus
plurality — [n] large part of a group advantage, bulk, greater part, lead, majority, mass, most, multiplicity, nearly all, numerousness, preponderance, profusion, variety; concepts 382,829 Ant. minority … New thesaurus
Minority government — For minority governments in general, see dominant minority. For minority regimes, see Apartheid. A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not… … Wikipedia
