major

1 of 3

adjective

ma·​jor ˈmā-jər 

1

: greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest

one of the major poets

2

: greater in number, quantity, or extent

the major part of his work

3

: of full legal age

major children

4

a

: notable or conspicuous in effect or scope : considerable

a major improvement

b

: prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree

earned some major cash

5

: involving grave risk : serious

a major illness

6

: of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization

The student's major field is geology.

7

a

: having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees

major scale

b

: based on a major scale

major key

c

: equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale

major third

d

: having a major third above the root

major triad

major

2 of 3

noun

1

: a person who has attained majority

2

a

: one that is superior in rank, importance, size, or performance

economic power of the oil majors

b

: a major musical interval, scale, key, or mode

3

: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel

4

a

: an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization

b

: a student specializing in such a field

a history major

5

majors plural : major league baseball

—used with the

6

: any of several high-level tournaments in professional golf, tennis, or bowling

major

3 of 3

verb

majored; majoring; majors

intransitive verb

: to pursue an academic major

majored in English

Synonyms

Adjective

• biggish
• considerable
• good
• goodly
• handsome
• healthy
• largish
• respectable
• significant
• sizable
• sizeable
• substantial
• substantive
• tidy

Examples of major in a Sentence

Adjective

He's one of the major figures in 19th-century U.S. history.

Researchers have announced a major advance in the treatment of cancer.

She played a major role in the negotiations.

No major changes are expected.

The grant covered a major part of the cost.

Butter is one of the major ingredients in the recipe.

None of his health problems are major.

He suffered a major heart attack.

Noun

He chose history as his major and French as his minor.

What was your major in college?

In college, he was a history major.

a club for physics majors

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Most of the national focus and major fundraising have flowed to the governor’s race. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Oct. 2024

Over the last ten years Chile has gone from a minor player in the global wine industry to become the fourth largest exporter: 230 million gallons going to 131 countries, with China its major importer. —John Mariani, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Noun

California Good salary, little to no debt: A California college guide to top-value majors Oct. 3, 2024 Will CSU meet graduation rate goals? —Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

The trio had college friends who were business majors spending all their time doing Excel manipulations or pulling data from different places, Grayeli said. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

Justin and Jayden both plan to major in business with an eye on starting in sports when their playing days are over. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2022

Steen, who intends to major in polymer engineering at Southern Mississippi, hopes the next level will include strong performances in the Class 2A regional and sectional and possibly a trip to the state meet. —Darren Day, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Verb

Middle English maiour, from Latin major, comparative of magnus great, large — more at much

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing major

• command sergeant major
• drum major
• main/major road
• major axis
• major depression
• major depressive disorder
• major general
• major histocompatibility complex
• major in
• major league
• major-medical
• major on
• major order
• major party
• major penalty
• major premise
• major seminary
• major suit
• major term
• sergeant major
• sergeant major of the army
• sergeant major of the marine corps
• staff sergeant major
• thalassemia major
• the major leagues

Kids Definition

major

1 of 3 adjective

ma·​jor ˈmā-jər 

1

a

: greater in dignity, rank, or importance

a major poet

b

: greater in number, quantity, or extent

received the major part of the blame

2

a

: notable in effect or scope

a major improvement

b

: significant in size, amount, or degree

made some major cash

3

: of or relating to an academic major

4

a

: having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees

major scale

b

: based on a major scale

major key

major chord

major

2 of 3 noun

1

: a military commissioned officer with a rank just below that of lieutenant colonel

2

a

: the chief subject studied by a student

chose history as his major

b

: a student specializing in a field

a French major

major

3 of 3 verb

majored; majoring

ˈmāj-(ə-)riŋ

: to study an academic major

major in English

Medical Definition

major

adjective

ma·​jor ˈmā-jər 

: involving grave risk : serious

a major illness

a major surgical procedure

compare minor

Legal Definition

major

noun

ma·​jor

: a person who has attained majority compare minor

Biographical Definition

Major

biographical name

Ma·​jor ˈmā-jər 

Sir John 1943–     British prime minister (1990–97)