B2 noun Neutral

minor

/ˈmaɪnər/

A minor is a person who is under the legal age of full responsibility, typically under 18 or 21 depending on the jurisdiction. In an academic context, it also refers to a secondary subject of study that a student specializes in alongside their primary major.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.

The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.

2

The court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.

The court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.

3

I couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.

I couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.

Word Family

Noun
minor
Verb
minor
Adverb
minorly
Adjective
minor
Related
minority
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Memory Tip

Think of the prefix 'mini-'. A minor is a 'mini' person (not yet an adult) or a 'mini' subject of study (smaller than a major).

Quick Quiz

The airline has a special policy for an unaccompanied ______ traveling alone.

Correct!

The correct answer is: minor

Examples

1

The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.

everyday

The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.

2

The court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.

formal

The court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.

3

I couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.

informal

I couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.

4

While her major is in Physics, her minor in Philosophy provides a unique perspective on her research.

academic

While her major is in Physics, her minor in Philosophy provides a unique perspective on her research.

5

Our website includes strict age-verification protocols to ensure we do not collect data from any minor.

business

Our website includes strict age-verification protocols to ensure we do not collect data from any minor.

Word Family

Noun
minor
Verb
minor
Adverb
minorly
Adjective
minor
Related
minority

Common Collocations

unaccompanied minor unaccompanied minor
legal minor legal minor
minor in [subject] minor in [subject]
protection of minors protection of minors
sentenced as a minor sentenced as a minor

Common Phrases

minor in possession

minor in possession (of restricted substances)

major and minor

major and minor (academic focus)

minor child

minor child

Often Confused With

minor vs miner

A miner is a person who works in a mine extracting coal or ore, whereas a minor is an underage person.

minor vs minority

Minority refers to the smaller part or group of a population, while a minor refers to a specific individual who is underage.

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Usage Notes

When used as a noun for a person, 'minor' is common in legal and formal safety contexts. In US and Canadian universities, 'minor' is used as a noun to describe a secondary concentration of study.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'minority' when they mean 'minor' (e.g., saying 'He is a minority' instead of 'He is a minor'). Also, remember that 'minor' is a countable noun.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the prefix 'mini-'. A minor is a 'mini' person (not yet an adult) or a 'mini' subject of study (smaller than a major).

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'minor' meaning 'less' or 'smaller'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: plural 'minors' Used with the preposition 'in' for academic subjects (e.g., a minor in French) Often functions as an adjective in other contexts
🌍

Cultural Context

The 'age of majority' (when a minor becomes an adult) varies by country, but is 18 in most Western cultures.

Quick Quiz

The airline has a special policy for an unaccompanied ______ traveling alone.

Correct!

The correct answer is: minor

Related Words

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B2

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boneyard

B2

A boneyard is a place where old, discarded, or obsolete items—typically large machinery like aircraft or vehicles—are stored or dismantled for parts. It is also an informal or regional term for a cemetery or burial ground.

bonfire

B2

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bongo

B2

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bonito

B2

A bonito is a medium-sized, predatory marine fish belonging to the Scombridae family, which also includes tuna and mackerel. In culinary contexts, it is most famous for being dried, fermented, and smoked to create flakes used in Japanese stocks and seasonings.

bonkers

B2

An informal adjective used to describe someone or something that is crazy, insane, or highly eccentric. It can refer to a person's mental state, a chaotic situation, or an idea that seems completely absurd or wild.

bonny

B2

An adjective primarily used in British and Scottish English to describe someone, especially a woman or child, who is physically attractive, healthy, and cheerful. It conveys a sense of natural beauty combined with a robust or wholesome appearance.

bonsai

B2

Relating to the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers through careful pruning and wiring. When used as an adjective, it describes plants or objects that have been miniaturized or styled according to these aesthetic principles.

bony

B2

Describes someone or a part of the body that is very thin, allowing the underlying bone structure to be seen or felt. It also refers to anything made of or resembling bone, particularly in biological or anatomical contexts.

boo

B2

In informal contexts, 'boo' can be used as an adjective to describe something that is disappointing, poor in quality, or undesirable. It is more commonly recognized as a sound of disapproval or a slang term of endearment, but its use as a descriptor for 'bad' is found in specific colloquial dialects.

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