Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense majors, present participle majoring, past tense, past participle majored
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use major when you want to describe something that is more important, serious, or significant than other things in agroup or situation.
The major factor in the decision to stay or to leave was usually professional.
Studies show that stress can also be a major problem.
Exercise has a major part to play in preventing and combating disease.
Synonyms: important, vital, critical, significant More Synonyms of major
2. countable noun & title noun
A major is an officer of middle rank in the British army or the United States army, air force, or marines.
I was a major in the war, you know.
...Major Alan Bulman.
3. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]
At a university or college in the United States, a student's major is the main subject that they are studying.
English majors would be asked to explore the roots of language.
4. countable noun [noun NOUN]
At a university or college in the United States, if a student is, for example, a geology major, geology is the main subject they are studying.
She was named the outstanding undergraduate history major at the University of Oklahoma.
5. verb
If a student at a university or college in the United States majorsin a particular subject, that subject is the main one they study.
He majored in finance at Claremont Men's College in California. [VERB + in]
6. adjective [noun ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE noun]
In music, a major scale is one in which the third note is two tones higher than the first.
...Mozart's Symphony No 35 in D Major.
7. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A major is a large or important company.
[business]
Oil majors need not fear being unable to sell their crude.
8. plural noun
The majors are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
[mainly US]
I knew what I could do in the minor leagues, I just wanted a chance to prove myselfin the majors.
9. countable noun
A major is an important sporting competition, especially in golf or tennis.
Sarazen became the first golfer to win all four majors.
More Synonyms of major
major in British English
(ˈmeɪdʒə)
noun
1. military
an officer immediately junior to a lieutenant colonel
2.
a person who is superior in a group or class
3.
a large or important company
the oil majors
4. (often preceded by the) music
a major key, chord, mode, or scale
5. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand
a.
the principal field of study of a student at a university, etc
his major is sociology
b.
a student who is studying a particular subject as his or her principal field
a sociology major
6.
a person who has reached the age of legal majority
7. logic
a major term or premise
8.
a principal or important record company, film company, etc
9. the majors
adjective
10.
larger in extent, number, etc
the major part
11.
of greater importance or priority
12.
very serious or significant
a major disaster
13.
main, chief, or principal
14.
of, involving, or making up a majority
15. music
a.
(of a scale or mode) having notes separated by the interval of a whole tone, except for the third and fourth degrees, and seventh and eighth degrees, which are separated by a semitone
b.
relating to or employing notes from the major scale
a major key
c. (postpositive)
denoting a specified key or scale as being major
C major
d.
denoting a chord or triad having a major third above the root
e.
(in jazz) denoting a major chord with a major seventh added above the root
16. logic
constituting the major term or major premise of a syllogism
17. mainly US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand
of or relating to a student's principal field of study at a university, etc
18. archaic, British
the elder: used after a schoolboy's surname if he has one or more younger brothers in the same school
Price major
19.
of full legal age
20. (postpositive) bell-ringing
of, relating to, or denoting a method rung on eight bells
verb
21. (intransitive; usually foll byin) US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand
to do one's principal study (in a particular subject)
to major in English literature
22. (intransitive; usually foll byon)
to take or deal with as the main area of interest
the book majors on the peasant dishes
Derived forms
majorship (ˈmajorship)
noun
Word origin
C15 (adj): from Latin, comparative of magnus great; C17 (n, in military sense): from French, short for sergeant major
Major in British English
(ˈmeɪdʒə)
noun
Sir John. born 1943, British Conservative politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–90); prime minister (1990–97)
Major in American English
(ˈmeɪdʒər)
John1943- ; Brit. politician: prime minister (1990-97)
major in American English
(ˈmeɪdʒər)
adjective
1.
a.
greater in size, amount, number, or extent
b.
greater in importance or rank
2.
of full legal age
3.
constituting the majority
said of a part, etc.
4. US, Education
designating or of a field of study in which a student specializes and receives a degree
5. Music
a.
designating an imperfect interval greater than the corresponding minor by a semitone
b.
characterized by major intervals, scales, etc.
in a major key
c.
designating a triad having a major third
d.
based on the scale pattern of the major mode
see also major scale
verb intransitive
6. US, Education
to pursue a major subject or field of study; specialize
to major in physics
noun
7.
a superior in some class or group
8. US Military
an officer ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel
9. US, Education
a.
a major subject or field of study
b.
a student specializing in a specified subject
a music major
10. Law
a person who has reached full legal age
11. Music
a major interval, key, etc.
Idioms:
the Majors
Word origin
ME maiour < L major, compar. of magnus, great: see magni-; (sense 8) Fr
Examples of 'major' in a sentence
major
Oil majors duly took another leg up.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are building this to be a major force.
The Sun (2016)
The growing popularity of internet banking is the major factor behind the closures.
The Sun (2016)
She also suffered from degenerative arthritis and major heart problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And he made it clear that one of his major tasks will be cutting those numbers in spectacular fashion.
The Sun (2016)
Of course, photographs play a major role in storytelling throughout the museum’s permanent exhibitions.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
This will be part of a major pitch by the Government to build new ties with old friends.
The Sun (2016)
This may sound too idealistic, but you and a partner can take a major step toward it.
The Sun (2017)
With a delicious dressing a good salad should be the major part of your meal.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
And they played major roles in real life.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It gave me a hunger to come back and win a major championship.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In two years he rose from lieutenant colonel to major general.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
Worn cartilage is one of the major causes of osteoarthritis.
The Sun (2008)
In their situation there are four major realities over which they essentially no control.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
It also weighed on the oil majors.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He won each of his first two major championships by eight strokes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Will there be major changes if things go wrong?
The Sun (2012)
What is it like to take on a major project?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The mite was born with four major heart problems.
The Sun (2009)
This major study teaches that theoretical ideas about free radicals are not always borne out in practice.
Youngson, Dr. Robert The Antioxidant Health Plan (1994)
With a few major and minor tweaks we hope we can get him back to his best.
The Sun (2013)
The third major restriction upon presidential power lies in the efficiency of the administrative instruments at the disposal of his office.
Wright, Vincent The Government and Politics of France (1989)
Pretty major detail to leave out.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His mother married a Norwegian army major.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The profile data confirm what we already know -- age is a major predictor of switching patterns.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
As well as yielding such a nutritious oil, flax is a major force in the textile industry.
Erdmann, Robert & Jones, Meirion Fats, Nutrition and Health (1991)
A major record company needs to have both to survive and prosper.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
major
British English: major /ˈmeɪdʒə/ ADJECTIVE
You use major to describe something that is more important, serious, or significant than other things.