tyrannies of the majority

Noun

tyranny of the majority (countable and uncountable, plural tyrannies of the majority or tyrannies of majorities)

1. A situation in which a government or other authority democratically supported by a majority of its subjects makes policies or takes actions benefiting that majority, without regard for the rights or welfare of the rest of its subjects.
   • I suppose, however, that the secret voting has afforded, and will afford, an important security against the tyranny of the majority, which I consider as the greatest evil and the most formidable danger that can attend a purely democratical government.1837, Testimony of Alexis de Tocqueville in "An abridgement of the evidence given before the select committee, appointed in 1835, to consider the most effectual means of preventing bribery...

   Synonyms:

   dictatorship of the majority, tyranny of the masses