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
Patrick Smith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Wisconsin is one of the country's most politically competitive states, and how the high court decides the case could have a major impact on state and national politics.
—Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2023
On Thursday, the watchdog group Media Matters published a report showing that the ads of major corporations were appearing on X alongside antisemitic material.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
The analysis comes as the Earth hits another major climate milestone: The planet appears to have reached an average surface temperature of more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Google is also joining the early Black Friday sale action with discounts on its lineup of products across nearly major online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
The sales company has now closed deals in all major territories.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
The tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP has the support of a major power player: President Joe Biden.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
Striking Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with major studios and streamers Wednesday that could clear the way for the entertainment industry to restart its content factory after six months of labor strife.
—Joe Flint, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Christian De Looper, wsj.com, 1 Nov. 2023
The family also owns a $700,000 vacation home in Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley.
Rolston, 20, a Los Angeles native, and Stewart, 21, were business majors at Pepperdine, according to their LinkedIn profiles.
—Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
That means state appropriations should focus more on engineering and business programs, said Shad White, the auditor, and less on liberal arts majors like anthropology, women’s studies and German language and literature.
—Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
Walker, a political science major, drafted the team constitution, and both worked to develop the club’s budget and schedule.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 31 Oct. 2023
Now a senior at UC Berkeley, Nabavi continues to pursue that passion for space as an engineering physics major and founder of a campus club to research and develop advanced structures needed in aerospace.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
To meet the rising interest in the field, UC Berkeley started an aerospace engineering major last year, attracting 2,000 applicants for 80 seats — a 4% admission rate.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
The top-earning majors include radiation therapy and software engineering, with both leading to a median pay at mid-career in the six-figures.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2023
For the moment, the indies and majors seem dedicated to buying and releasing movies — but the specter of the strikes still looms.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 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 240 people Hamas took captive during its terror attack, in which some 1,200 people in Israel were killed, have been a major focal point in a war that has cost many thousands of lives and caused devastation across the Gaza Strip over the last six weeks.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Wisconsin is one of the country's most politically competitive states, and how the high court decides the case could have a major impact on state and national politics.
—Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2023
On Thursday, the watchdog group Media Matters published a report showing that the ads of major corporations were appearing on X alongside antisemitic material.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
The analysis comes as the Earth hits another major climate milestone: The planet appears to have reached an average surface temperature of more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Google is also joining the early Black Friday sale action with discounts on its lineup of products across nearly major online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
The sales company has now closed deals in all major territories.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
The tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP has the support of a major power player: President Joe Biden.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
Striking Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with major studios and streamers Wednesday that could clear the way for the entertainment industry to restart its content factory after six months of labor strife.
—Joe Flint, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Noun
Different majors, after all, require different levels of performance and different software support.
—Christian De Looper, wsj.com, 1 Nov. 2023
The family also owns a $700,000 vacation home in Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley.
Rolston, 20, a Los Angeles native, and Stewart, 21, were business majors at Pepperdine, according to their LinkedIn profiles.
—Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
That means state appropriations should focus more on engineering and business programs, said Shad White, the auditor, and less on liberal arts majors like anthropology, women’s studies and German language and literature.
—Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
Walker, a political science major, drafted the team constitution, and both worked to develop the club’s budget and schedule.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 31 Oct. 2023
Now a senior at UC Berkeley, Nabavi continues to pursue that passion for space as an engineering physics major and founder of a campus club to research and develop advanced structures needed in aerospace.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
To meet the rising interest in the field, UC Berkeley started an aerospace engineering major last year, attracting 2,000 applicants for 80 seats — a 4% admission rate.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
The top-earning majors include radiation therapy and software engineering, with both leading to a median pay at mid-career in the six-figures.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2023
For the moment, the indies and majors seem dedicated to buying and releasing movies — but the specter of the strikes still looms.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 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 2 Dec. 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
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