major
MAYD-zhuh
Major (adj) means of great importance, size, or seriousness. Example: “They made a major decision to relocate the whole team.”
adj
1
Of great importance, size, or seriousness.
"They made a major decision to relocate the whole team."
"She suffered major injuries in the crash."
"Losing the main supplier was a major problem for the shop."
noun
1
A military officer rank above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
"The major briefed the troops before dawn."
"The major saluted the colonel and then inspected the guard."
"Our neighbour was a major in the army before he retired."
2
A student's main field of academic study.
"Her major was economics, with a minor in French."
"My major is history, but I also enjoy studying languages."
"What was your major when you were at university?"
verb
1
To specialize in a particular subject at college or university.
"He decided to major in computer science."
"She majored in biology before applying to medical school."
"Many students who major in music also learn to teach."
How to use major
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBig or important — or, as a noun, either a military rank or a chosen university subject.
Common pairings
major decision
major injury
major in
declare a major
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- majors
- Past tense
- majored
- Comparative
- more major
- Superlative
- most major
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They made a _____ decision to relocate the whole team.
Etymology
From Latin maior, comparative of magnus ("great, large"). A doublet of "mayor."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “major” mean?
The word “major” means of great importance, size, or seriousness. In plain terms, big or important — or, as a noun, either a military rank or a chosen university subject.
How do you pronounce “major”?
“Major” is pronounced MAYD-zhuh ([ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒɚ] in IPA).
How do you use “major” in a sentence?
Here is “major” used in a sentence: “They made a major decision to relocate the whole team.”
What is the opposite of “major”?
The opposite of “major” — its antonyms — is minor.
What part of speech is “major”?
Depending on how it is used, “major” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “major” come from?
The word “major” comes from Latin. From Latin maior, comparative of magnus ("great, large"). A doublet of "mayor.".
Is “major” a common word?
“Major” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “major” have?
“Major” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of great importance, size, or seriousness.
What is the difference between major and minor?
They are direct opposites. Major means large, important, or serious, while minor means small, lesser, or not very important. A major injury is severe and a minor one is slight; a major road is a main route and a minor road is a small side street. The pair scales almost any noun up or down.
What is the difference between "major" and "significant"?
Both suggest importance, but "major" also carries a sense of size or scale, while "significant" stresses meaning or impact. A major change is big and far-reaching; a significant change is one that matters or makes a real difference. They often overlap and can be swapped in many sentences.
Is "major" a positive or negative word?
Neither by itself — major is neutral and simply signals scale or importance. It takes its tone from what it describes: "major success" sounds positive, "major problem" sounds negative. On its own it just tells you something is big or serious, not whether that thing is good or bad.
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