major

Meaning

Adj

1. (attributive) Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
2. (attributive) Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
3. (attributive) Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.
4. (attributive) Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
5. (attributive) Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
6. Of full legal age, having attained majority.
7. Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
8. Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. (of a scale)
9. Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval)
10. Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval)
11. (postpositional) (of a key) Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
12. Bell changes rung on eight bells.
13. (UK, dated) Indicating the elder of two brothers (or the eldest of three), appended to a surname in public schools.
14. Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism. (of a term)
15. Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism. (of a premise)

Noun

1. A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
2. A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
3. A person of legal age.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major key.
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major interval.
6. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major scale.
7. A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
8. A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
9. (Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US) The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
10. (Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US) The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
11. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major term.
12. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major premise.
13. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of major suit.
14. (Canadian) A touchdown, or major score.
15. A goal.
16. (British, dated, slang) An elder brother (especially at a public school).
17. A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
18. (alt-of, alternative, obsolete) Alternative form of mayor and mair.

Verb

Used in a phrasal verb: major in.

Opposite of

minor

Synonyms

main

important

principal

chief

big

significant

great

specialization

primary

specialisation

special subject

serious

of age

large

weighty

grave

🪦

momentous

substantial

essential

elder

greater

crucial

grand

lieutenant commander

older

adult

🧑

leading

ample

basic

of the full legal age

central

deep

vital

wing commander

speciality

cardinal

capital

profound

fundamental

lieutenant

flat

key

🔑

higher

extensive

expert

eminent

commander

dominant

high

heavy

Translations

majeur

maggiore

mayor

maior

commandant

Major

grand

Dur

principal

major

majoor

comandante

ταγματάρχης

major

principale

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: major

Cognate with Western Frisian: majoar

Cognate with Dutch: majoor

Cognate with French: majeur

In summary

From Middle English major, from Latin maior, comparative of magnus (“great, large; noble, important”), from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂yōs (“greater”), comparative of *meǵh₂- (“great”). Compare West Frisian majoar (“major”), Dutch majoor (“major”), French majeur. Doublet of mayor.

Sentences

The major was killed and his crew badly wounded .

He landed the plane with a damaged gear , but no major damage .

Its main actors and actresses have also become major stars in their own right .

These often favour the major parties and discriminate against smaller , regional parties .

The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.

Canoeing is one of the park's major attractions .