minor
MEYE-nuh
Minor (adj) means Lesser in size, seriousness, or importance compared with something else. Example: “It was only a minor injury, so she kept playing.”
adj
1
Lesser in size, seriousness, or importance compared with something else.
"It was only a minor injury, so she kept playing."
"They made a few minor changes to the contract."
"A minor delay meant we arrived five minutes late."
2
Not yet having reached the legal age of adulthood.
"It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor."
"Minor children must be accompanied by an adult at the pool."
"Tickets for minor visitors are cheaper than those for adults."
noun
1
A person who is under the legal age of adulthood.
"The film is unsuitable for minors."
"The club does not allow minors after nine in the evening."
"A minor needs a parent's signature to join the gym."
2
A secondary subject of study alongside a student's main degree.
"She majored in biology with a minor in Spanish."
"His minor was music, although he mainly studied law."
"Adding a minor in history made her course more interesting."
verb
1
To study a subject as a secondary field alongside one's main degree.
"He decided to minor in economics."
"She plans to minor in art while majoring in chemistry."
"Many engineering students minor in business to widen their career options."
How to use minor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmaller or less serious, a person under the legal adult age, or a secondary field of academic study.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "miner" (someone who digs for coal or ore) — they sound identical but are unrelated words.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
minor injury
minor in a subject
minor detail
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- minors
- Past tense
- minored
- Comparative
- more minor
- Superlative
- most minor
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was only a _____ injury, so she kept playing.
Etymology
From Latin minor, "lesser" or "younger," which also gives us "minister," "minify," and "minimum."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
major
antonym(s) of
Related words
Rhymes for minor
See all rhymes for minor →Frequently asked questions
What does “minor” mean?
The word “minor” means lesser in size, seriousness, or importance compared with something else. In plain terms, smaller or less serious, a person under the legal adult age, or a secondary field of academic study.
How do you pronounce “minor”?
“Minor” is pronounced MEYE-nuh (/ˈmaɪ.nəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “minor” in a sentence?
Here is “minor” used in a sentence: “It was only a minor injury, so she kept playing.”
What is another word for “minor”?
Words with a similar meaning to “minor” include insignificant and Thesaurus:small.
What is the opposite of “minor”?
The opposite of “minor” — its antonyms — are major and antonym(s) of.
What part of speech is “minor”?
Depending on how it is used, “minor” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “minor” come from?
The word “minor” comes from Latin. From Latin minor, "lesser" or "younger," which also gives us "minister," "minify," and "minimum.".
Is “minor” a common word?
“Minor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between minor and miner?
They sound alike but differ completely. Minor is mainly an adjective meaning lesser in size or importance, and a noun for a person under legal age. A miner is someone who works in a mine, extracting coal, ore, or minerals. Remember: a miner works underground; minor means small or less important.
What is the difference between minor and major?
They are opposites of degree. Minor means lesser in size, seriousness, or importance; major means greater or more significant. A minor injury is slight, while a major injury is severe. The pair appears throughout English — minor and major roads, keys, and repairs — always contrasting the smaller with the larger.
Does minor mean someone under 18?
As a noun, yes — a minor is a person below the legal age of adulthood, often eighteen, though the exact age varies by country and context. This is separate from the adjective minor, meaning small or unimportant. Both come from the Latin for 'lesser', which links the ideas of youth and smallness.
What is the opposite of minor?
For the adjective meaning small or unimportant, the opposite is major, or words like significant, serious, and important. For the noun meaning a young person, the opposite is an adult or a person of legal age. Context decides which sense, and therefore which antonym, applies.
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