minor
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 5The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.
The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.
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.
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
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
The store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.
everydayThe store was fined for selling alcohol to a minor.
The court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.
formalThe court must appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor during the proceedings.
I couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.
informalI couldn't get into the club because I was still a minor back then.
While her major is in Physics, her minor in Philosophy provides a unique perspective on her research.
academicWhile her major is in Physics, her minor in Philosophy provides a unique perspective on her research.
Our website includes strict age-verification protocols to ensure we do not collect data from any minor.
businessOur website includes strict age-verification protocols to ensure we do not collect data from any minor.
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
A miner is a person who works in a mine extracting coal or ore, whereas a minor is an underage person.
Minority refers to the smaller part or group of a population, while a minor refers to a specific individual who is underage.
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
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 Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
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curriculumA curriculum refers to the total set of courses, subjects, a...
undergraduateRelating to a student at a college or university who has not...
adolescenceAdolescence is the transitional stage of physical and psycho...
guardianA person who protects or looks after someone or something. I...
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