minority
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outnumbered
The state in which one group has fewer members than another, opposing group, especially in sports or in a conflict.
Nach der roten Karte musste die Mannschaft fast eine halbe Stunde in Unterzahl spielen.
After the red card, the team had to play outnumbered for almost half an hour.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Unter-' (in the sense of 'less than normal') and 'Zahl' (number). So it literally describes a state in which the number of people is too low.
Die Verteidiger waren in der Unterzahl und konnten das Tor nicht verhindern.
The defenders were outnumbered and couldn't prevent the goal.
This noun is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'in Unterzahl' (outnumbered / short-handed). It describes a state and is rarely used with an article like 'die Unterzahl'.
Es ist schwer, in Unterzahl ein Spiel zu gewinnen.
It is hard to win a game when you are outnumbered.
The expression 'in Unterzahl' (outnumbered / short-handed) is often combined with the verbs 'sein' (to be), 'spielen' (to play), 'kämpfen' (to fight), or 'geraten' (to end up). The context is often sports or a conflict.
Nach dem Ausfall eines Spielers geriet die Mannschaft in Unterzahl.
After one player was sidelined, the team ended up outnumbered.
majority
'die Mehrheit' and 'die Unterzahl' both describe how large a group is in comparison. But they show opposite sides. A 'Mehrheit' is the larger part of a whole group, meaning more than half. 'Unterzahl' is used when one group has fewer people than another, often in sports or in a conflict. The words can be confused because both have to do with numerical relationships. In practice: 'Mehrheit' fits with votes or opinions, while 'in Unterzahl' fits when one side has fewer people than the other.
Am Ende spielte die Mannschaft in Unterzahl, weil ein Spieler eine rote Karte bekam.
In the end, the team played outnumbered because one player received a red card.
Die Mehrheit der Nachbarn möchte den Hof im Sommer gemeinsam nutzen.
The majority of the neighbors want to use the courtyard together in the summer.