1
: inferior in importance, size, or degree : comparatively unimportant
a minor artist
2
: not having reached majority (see majority sense 2)
He is the father of minor children.
3
a
: having half steps between the second and third, the fifth and sixth, and sometimes the seventh and eighth degrees
minor scale
b
: based on a minor scale
minor key
c
: less by a semitone than the corresponding major interval
minor third
d
: having a minor third above the root
minor triad
4
: not serious or involving risk to life
minor illness
5
: of or relating to an academic subject requiring fewer courses than a major
his minor subjects for his M.A. were plant ecology and entomology—
Current Biography
Current Biography1
: a person who is not yet old enough to have the rights of an adult
2
: a minor musical interval, scale, key, or mode
3
a
: a minor academic subject
b
: a student taking a specified minor
4
: a determinant or matrix obtained from a given determinant or matrix by eliminating the row and column in which a given element lies
5
minors plural
: minor league baseball
—used with the
Synonyms
Examples of minor in a Sentence
Adjective
Her role in the project was minor.
I'm not worried about minor details.
The grant covered only a minor part of the cost.
The delay will be minor.
He suffered a minor heart attack.
Noun
families with children who are still minors
The nightclub was shut down for selling alcohol to a minor.
She majored in chemistry with a minor in biology.
Recent Examples on the WebMichelle Singletary, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
This process ensures the iPad is fully functional with any minor cosmetic imperfections addressed.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Bell revealed himself as Peck’s victim on the series; Peck was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor and sentenced to a 16-month prison sentence in 2004.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
The only minor drawback is the relatively higher price for the quantity, potentially necessitating more frequent repurchases.
—Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
But this isn’t any old revival with a few tweaks and minor revisions.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
If Clowney’s signing was just a brief reprieve from the rebuilding philosophy, the free-agent market has little else to provide outside of a minor player or two.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024
Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why a new legal challenge to the state’s law banning transgender medical procedures for minors is wrong.
—Dave Yost, National Review, 4 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The Laguna Beach Police Department is assisting with the investigation, but a department spokesperson declined to provide any details on the probe because the individuals involved are minors.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Last year, state legislators there proposed 11 such bills, and five of them, including one that bans gender-affirming care for minors, passed into law, according to the ACLU’s tally.
—Sandy West, NBC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Under the new law, parental notification and consent would be required for minors.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
At least 23 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors, and at least seven states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for adults, the document states.
—Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio, and the law firm Goodwin filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging House Bill 68, legislation in Ohio that bans gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and also bans transgender girls from taking part in girls' and women's sports.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Two minors were injured in a drive-by shooting in west Tempe on Thursday evening.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, Carly chose to minor in event planning.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2022
At this institution, everyone is required to minor in biblical studies.
—Leslie Ambriz, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022
Tens of thousands of times a year, hospitals charge enormously expensive trauma alert fees for injuries so minor the patient is never admitted.
—Jay Hancock, CNN, 16 July 2021
In a news release, the school said students in the fall will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in public health and may also minor in public health.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2021
The weather map on Monday shows somewhat active weather across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast, where areas of rain will mix will minor snow accumulations.
—Todd Nelson, Star Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021
Adjective
Conducting a minor business meeting while on vacation doesn’t instantly transform what is really a vacation into a business trip, according to the IRS.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
This process ensures the iPad is fully functional with any minor cosmetic imperfections addressed.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Bell revealed himself as Peck’s victim on the series; Peck was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor and sentenced to a 16-month prison sentence in 2004.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
The only minor drawback is the relatively higher price for the quantity, potentially necessitating more frequent repurchases.
—Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
But this isn’t any old revival with a few tweaks and minor revisions.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
If Clowney’s signing was just a brief reprieve from the rebuilding philosophy, the free-agent market has little else to provide outside of a minor player or two.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024
Noun
What ensues is a chase through Central Park that landed Donnelly the now-infamous shot of Andrew and Epstein walking together after Epstein’s release from jail in 2009 for soliciting prostitution from minors.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why a new legal challenge to the state’s law banning transgender medical procedures for minors is wrong.
—Dave Yost, National Review, 4 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The Laguna Beach Police Department is assisting with the investigation, but a department spokesperson declined to provide any details on the probe because the individuals involved are minors.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Last year, state legislators there proposed 11 such bills, and five of them, including one that bans gender-affirming care for minors, passed into law, according to the ACLU’s tally.
—Sandy West, NBC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Under the new law, parental notification and consent would be required for minors.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
At least 23 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors, and at least seven states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for adults, the document states.
—Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio, and the law firm Goodwin filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging House Bill 68, legislation in Ohio that bans gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and also bans transgender girls from taking part in girls' and women's sports.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Two minors were injured in a drive-by shooting in west Tempe on Thursday evening.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
Emma, one of about 20 Oxford survivors at the university, decided to minor in women’s studies, hoping to one day get a doctorate, maybe become a professor and teach students like her.
—John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, Carly chose to minor in event planning.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2022
At this institution, everyone is required to minor in biblical studies.
—Leslie Ambriz, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022
Tens of thousands of times a year, hospitals charge enormously expensive trauma alert fees for injuries so minor the patient is never admitted.
—Jay Hancock, CNN, 16 July 2021
In a news release, the school said students in the fall will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in public health and may also minor in public health.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2021
The weather map on Monday shows somewhat active weather across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast, where areas of rain will mix will minor snow accumulations.
—Todd Nelson, Star Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'minor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to minor
Dictionary Entries Near minor
Cite this Entry
“Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minor
1 of 2 adjective
mi·nor
ˈmī-nər 
1
: less in size, importance, or value
a minor poet
a minor injury
2
: not having reached the age to have full civil rights
3
a
: relating to or being a musical scale in which the third tone is lowered a half step
b
: based on a minor scale
minor key
minor
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has not reached the age to have full civil rights
Medical Definition
minor
2 of 2 noun
: a person of either sex under the age of legal qualification for adult rights and responsibilities that has traditionally been 21 in the United States but is now 18 in many states or sometimes less under certain circumstances (as marriage or pregnancy)
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