A minority carrier is the type of charge carrier present in the smaller number in a doped semiconductor. In an n-type semiconductor the minority carriers are holes, while in a p-type semiconductor they are electrons. Although few in number, minority carriers play an important part in the working of semiconductor devices.

少数载流子是掺杂半导体中数量较少的那类载流子。在 n 型半导体中,少数载流子是空穴;在 p 型半导体中,则是电子。少数载流子虽数量少,却在半导体器件的工作中起重要作用。