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

music

a

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

Sit down at the piano and play, on the white keys, six successive ascending sequences of adjacent tones; begin on C to hear the major scale, and then on D, E, F, G …

—Robert Cantwell

The major scale is one kind of diatonic scale. All diatonic scales contain five whole steps and two half steps within the octave …

—Edward Aldwell et al.

b

: based on a major scale

a song in a major key

c

: equivalent to the distance between the keynote (see keynote entry 1 sense 2) and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale

major third

d

: having a major third above the root (see root entry 1 sense 7)

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 of major

Adjective

• significant
• considerable
• sizable
• substantial

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

That’s critical because China is normally a major fuel exporter. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Works by major international artists (Tschabalala Self, Francesco Clemente, Chantal Joffe) sit alongside Greek artists (Vasilis Papageorgiou, Kostas Paniaras, Sofia Mitsola) and commissions created on site, scattered through the hotel and grounds. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Noun

The trend of declining foreign enrollment could accelerate after recent changes to decades-old policies limiting the ability of visa holders to change majors, switch schools and remain in the US after graduation. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Lockport’s Kyla Mitchell hasn’t officially declared a major after verbally committing to Virginia. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Nine people suffered injuries ranging from minor to major. — Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2026

However, since the Bills have been dealing with injuries to Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp, Hancock has majored at safety for most of the practice week. — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2025

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

14th 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

Rhymes for major

• ager
• gauger
• pager
• stager
• wager
• yager
• teenager

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)