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
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
majored; majoring; majors
: to pursue an academic major
majored in English
Synonyms
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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing there were believed carried away by waters.
Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation.
—Samy Magdy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
In the Golden State, major companies, including Allstate and State Farm, have even stopped selling owners new policies, blaming wildfire risks and soaring construction costs.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2023
Many major hotel brands — including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt — are adding all-inclusive properties to their portfolios.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2023
Population figures are being updated all the time, but later this year, experts will have a more exact measure of how savanna elephants are doing when results from a major southern African census conducted by governments, park authorities, conservation groups and scientists are released.
—Anthony Ham, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
Four major oil ports in Libya — Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega and Es Sidra — were closed from Saturday evening for three days, two oil engineers told Reuters.
—Reuters, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2023
Apple is expected to reveal the latest iteration of its signature iPhone in a major event on Tuesday, alongside changes to other products, including the Apple Watch and AirPods.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
The storm’s maximum-sustained winds diminished slightly to 125 miles per hour putting it in the Category 3 range again, which is still considered a major hurricane.
—Jon Kamp, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2023
Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023
Finally, chords of A minor, F major, and B major shine from above—deus-ex-machina grace for a divided soul.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Gauff, whose best showing at a major was reaching the final at the 2022 French Open before losing to Swiatek, has now won 15 of her past 16 matches.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023
At many universities, engineering and biology majors are struggling to grasp fractions and exponents.
—Collin Binkley, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2023
The former Blackstone analyst, an economics major who attended a New York City college and had a 3.8 GPA, said they were quizzed on what was happening in the market, given ethical problems to solve that had no clear solution, and questioned on two case studies.
—Byluisa Beltran, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2023
At Caltech, students do not declare a major until the end of their first year.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Everyone in the stadium, including the media, wanted to believe Trent was the reason for this major upset in Big Ten football.
—The Indianapolis Star, 30 Aug. 2023
Simon Kitchen, aviation management major, and Reagan Youngblood, chemistry major, are two out-of-state students at Auburn.
—Jemma Stephenson, al, 28 Aug. 2023
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
McWright planned to major in communication studies and become a television sports analyst.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2022
And what will major advertisers such as Apple and Amazon do?
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 16 Dec. 2022
Ibrahimi was accepted to Kabul Medical University, to major in public health.
—Nabih Bulos, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2022
In 2020, according to public records, Mr. Aldrich attempted to enroll at Metro State University of Denver, a public university that offers online and in person classes, and intended to major in political science.
—Zusha Elinson, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
In college, Clooten intends to major in sports medicine with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist or chiropractor.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Nov. 2022
See More
Adjective
The greenback chalked up its eighth-straight week of gains against a basket of other major currencies on Friday, its best run since winter 2014-2015.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing there were believed carried away by waters.
Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation.
—Samy Magdy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
In the Golden State, major companies, including Allstate and State Farm, have even stopped selling owners new policies, blaming wildfire risks and soaring construction costs.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2023
Many major hotel brands — including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt — are adding all-inclusive properties to their portfolios.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2023
Population figures are being updated all the time, but later this year, experts will have a more exact measure of how savanna elephants are doing when results from a major southern African census conducted by governments, park authorities, conservation groups and scientists are released.
—Anthony Ham, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
Four major oil ports in Libya — Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega and Es Sidra — were closed from Saturday evening for three days, two oil engineers told Reuters.
—Reuters, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2023
Apple is expected to reveal the latest iteration of its signature iPhone in a major event on Tuesday, alongside changes to other products, including the Apple Watch and AirPods.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
The storm’s maximum-sustained winds diminished slightly to 125 miles per hour putting it in the Category 3 range again, which is still considered a major hurricane.
—Jon Kamp, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2023
Noun
The pec major is bigger, and sits above the pec minor.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023
Finally, chords of A minor, F major, and B major shine from above—deus-ex-machina grace for a divided soul.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Gauff, whose best showing at a major was reaching the final at the 2022 French Open before losing to Swiatek, has now won 15 of her past 16 matches.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023
At many universities, engineering and biology majors are struggling to grasp fractions and exponents.
—Collin Binkley, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2023
The former Blackstone analyst, an economics major who attended a New York City college and had a 3.8 GPA, said they were quizzed on what was happening in the market, given ethical problems to solve that had no clear solution, and questioned on two case studies.
—Byluisa Beltran, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2023
At Caltech, students do not declare a major until the end of their first year.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Everyone in the stadium, including the media, wanted to believe Trent was the reason for this major upset in Big Ten football.
—The Indianapolis Star, 30 Aug. 2023
Simon Kitchen, aviation management major, and Reagan Youngblood, chemistry major, are two out-of-state students at Auburn.
—Jemma Stephenson, al, 28 Aug. 2023
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
McWright planned to major in communication studies and become a television sports analyst.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2022
And what will major advertisers such as Apple and Amazon do?
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 16 Dec. 2022
Ibrahimi was accepted to Kabul Medical University, to major in public health.
—Nabih Bulos, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2022
In 2020, according to public records, Mr. Aldrich attempted to enroll at Metro State University of Denver, a public university that offers online and in person classes, and intended to major in political science.
—Zusha Elinson, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
In college, Clooten intends to major in sports medicine with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist or chiropractor.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Nov. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'major.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of major was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing major
Articles Related to major
Dictionary Entries Near major
Cite this Entry
“Major.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
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 noun1
: 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
Legal Definition
major
noun
ma·jor
: a person who has attained majority compare minor
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on major
Nglish: Translation of major for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of major for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share