Originally Posted By: doc_comfort
To me it refers to that part of the populace who are not socially vocal / politically active / seen to be "involved" / etc on any particular issue, yet they far outnumber their opposites (the "vocal minority"). I hear it most in political discussions. For example, the vocal minority makes a lot of noise about green living / vegan eating / recycling yet the silent majority continues to throw their burger wrappers out of the windows of their Hummers.


As far as I know the term was first used by Nixon and his minions to serve as an excuse for their policies. By being silent they allowed their voices to be taken over by others.