major Meaning & Definition
What Does Major Mean?
Major is an adjective that means Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest. Greater in number, quantity, or extent. It can also mean Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest. As a noun, it means A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel. As a verb, it means Used in a phrasal verb: major in.
Major at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒə(ɹ)// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | great, better and outstanding |
| Antonyms | minor, underage and nonaged |
| Plural | majors |
| Comparative / superlative | more major, most major |
| Verb forms | majors, majoring, majored |
Major Definition (Adjective)
- :
Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
the major part of the assembly
- Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
- Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
the major part of the assembly
- Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.
The building underwent a major renovation.
- Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
to earn some major cash
- Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
to suffer from a major illness
- Of full legal age, having attained majority.
major children
- Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
- :
Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
major scale
- Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval.
major third
- Having a major third above the root.
major triad
- Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
- Bell changes rung on eight bells.
- Indicating the elder of two brothers (or the eldest of three), appended to a surname in public schools.
- Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism. Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
- Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
- Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
Major as a Noun
- A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
He used to be a major in the army.
- An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.
- A person of legal age.
- : Ellipsis of major key. Ellipsis of major interval. Ellipsis of major scale. A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
- Ellipsis of major key.
- Ellipsis of major interval.
- Ellipsis of major scale.
- A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
- A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
- The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
- A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.
She is a math major.
- : Ellipsis of major term. Ellipsis of major premise.
- Ellipsis of major term.
- Ellipsis of major premise.
- Ellipsis of major suit.
- A touchdown, or major score.
- A goal.
- An elder brother (especially at a public school).
- A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
- Alternative form of mayor and mair.
Major as a Verb
- Used in a phrasal verb: major in.
Noun
- A military rank between captain and lieutenant colonel.
He used to be a major in the army.
Noun
- The main area of study of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
- A student at a college or university concentrating on a given area of study.
She is a math major.
- The major premise.
- (British slang) An elder brother (especially at a public school).
Verb
- To concentrate on a particular area of study as a student in a college or university
I have decided to major in mathematics.
Adjective
- Of great significance or importance.
- Of a scale that follows the pattern: tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone
A major scale.
- Being the larger of two intervals denoted by the same ordinal number.
- Containing the note a major third (four half steps) above the tonic.
- (campanology) Bell changes rung on eight bells.
Synonyms of Major
Major synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Major
Major in a Sentence
the major part of the assembly
The three major religions are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The five major religions are Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
The building underwent a major renovation.
to earn some major cash
a major exhibition
to suffer from a major illness
major children
major scale
major third
major triad
He used to be a major in the army.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
She is a math major.
I have decided to major in mathematics.
A major scale.
Word Forms & Grammar
major (comparative more major, superlative most major)
major (plural majors)
major (third-person singular simple present majors, present participle majoring, simple past and past participle majored)
Words That Rhyme With Major
Origin of Major
Origin 1: 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.
Origin 2: Noun sense 1 is a shortening of sergeant major, perhaps after Spanish mayor in the same sense.[1]
How Do You Say Major?
You say major as //ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒə(ɹ)//. It has 1 syllable.
Major: Your Questions Answered
Is major an adjective or a noun?
Major is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for major?
You can replace major with words such as great, better and outstanding. See the full list of major synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of major?
The opposite of major can be expressed with words like minor, underage and nonaged.
What is the plural of major?
The plural of major is majors.
What is the past tense of major?
The past tense of major is majored. The present participle is majoring.