What term refers to the minimal sound contrasts that distinguish meaning in a language?

The term that refers to the minimal sound contrasts that distinguish meaning in a language is "phoneme." Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that can change the meaning of a Word, such as the difference between the Words "bat" and "pat," which differ only in their initial phonemes. In each language, the specific set of phonemes varies and plays a crucial role in its phonological system.