Added 4 October 2026
minor
/ˈmaɪ.nəɹ/ adjective
Latin root: minor Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about minor at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Lesser, smaller in importance, size, degree, seriousness, or significance compared to another option, particularly:
of minor importance
-
Underage, not having reached legal majority.
The defendant resides at 123 Fake Street with his partner and two minor children.
-
Not serious, not involving risk of death, permanent injury, dangerous surgery, or extended hospitalization.
She suffered a minor injury.
noun
-
A child, a person who has not reached the age of majority, consent, etc. and is legally subject to fewer responsibilities and less accountability and entitled to fewer legal rights and privileges.
No, he can't get a mortgage or sell the house. He's still a minor. For the most part, he can't sign a legally binding contract.
-
A lesser person or thing, a person, group, or thing of minor rank or in the minor leagues.
He plays in the minors.
- Ellipsis of minor interval, minor scale, minor mode, minor key, minor chord, or minor triad.
verb
Origin
From Middle English minor, menor, menour, etc., from Latin minor (“lesser; young; young person”) both directly and via Norman and Middle French menor, menour, etc. Doublet of minus but not mini-. Cognate with minister, minify, Minorca, Menshevik, and possibly minnow. Compare Latin minimum and minuō, Old High German minniro, Cornish minow.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)