1
: greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest
one of the major poets
2
: greater in number, quantity, or extent
the major part of his work
3
: of full legal age
major children
4
a
: notable or conspicuous in effect or scope : considerable
a major improvement
b
: prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree
earned some major cash
5
: involving grave risk : serious
a major illness
6
: of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization
The student's major field is geology.
7
a
: having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees
major scale
b
: based on a major scale
major key
c
: equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale
major third
d
: having a major third above the root
major triad
1
: a person who has attained majority
2
a
: one that is superior in rank, importance, size, or performance
economic power of the oil majors
b
: a major musical interval, scale, key, or mode
3
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel
4
a
: an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization
b
: a student specializing in such a field
a history major
5
majors plural
: major league baseball
—used with the
6
: any of several high-level tournaments in professional golf, tennis, or bowling
majored; majoring; majors
: to pursue an academic major
majored in English
Synonyms
Examples of major in a Sentence
Adjective
He's one of the major figures in 19th-century U.S. history.
Researchers have announced a major advance in the treatment of cancer.
She played a major role in the negotiations.
No major changes are expected.
The grant covered a major part of the cost.
Butter is one of the major ingredients in the recipe.
None of his health problems are major.
He suffered a major heart attack.
Noun
He chose history as his major and French as his minor.
What was your major in college?
In college, he was a history major.
a club for physics majors
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Related article Ukraine claims major drone strike on Russian airfield, killing servicemen and destroying aircraft
Ukraine has responded with a rapid expansion of its own arms industry, in many ways more innovative than the Russians’, especially in developing long-range drones at sea and in the air.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Today, years after most major auto and tech manufacturers pledged self-driving software, just a few major players remain.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
Background No fatalities or major injuries were reported after Friday’s earthquake, whose epicenter was in northern New Jersey.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
One major difference from the 2017 eclipse that cut across the continent is that the 2024 eclipse's path width will be notably wider, according to NASA.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The three major stock indexes, meanwhile, inched upward in early trading on Friday.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
In recent years, Coachella has had seven major stages.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
One major event this summer has many counterterrorism officials on edge.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
But look at the 2023 earnings reports for some of the top 20 or so majors and an anomaly jumps out: only nine reported positive sales growth, but 16 reported gross margin improvement.
—Greg Petro, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
But as a financial planning major, O’Toole has put in more than enough work outside the mat to carry over to his success when his wrestling career is eventually over.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
This has intensified recruiting drives for aerospace majors at colleges like the Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
But many aerospace majors remain more drawn to buzz than benefits and legacies.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Rosneft and Lukoil, the other Russian oil major with facilities targeted this week, both said that the damage was limited even if fires led to some equipment going offline.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024
But Chega is hoping for a revolution with the help of people like Guilherme Joaquim, an 18-year-old IT major who recently attended a university debate to hear Matias speak.
—Catarina Fernandes Martins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Brisbane Airport in Queensland has announced a healthy string of new airline services from carriers in critical tourism and trade markets, including all three U.S. majors.
—Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2022
Steen, who intends to major in polymer engineering at Southern Mississippi, hopes the next level will include strong performances in the Class 2A regional and sectional and possibly a trip to the state meet.
—Darren Day, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023
McWright planned to major in communication studies and become a television sports analyst.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2022
And what will major advertisers such as Apple and Amazon do?
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 16 Dec. 2022
Ibrahimi was accepted to Kabul Medical University, to major in public health.
—Nabih Bulos, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2022
In 2020, according to public records, Mr. Aldrich attempted to enroll at Metro State University of Denver, a public university that offers online and in person classes, and intended to major in political science.
—Zusha Elinson, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
In college, Clooten intends to major in sports medicine with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist or chiropractor.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Nov. 2022
Adjective
As far as major shopping events go in the beauty world, few are as big of a deal as Sephora’s Savings Event.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Related article Ukraine claims major drone strike on Russian airfield, killing servicemen and destroying aircraft
Ukraine has responded with a rapid expansion of its own arms industry, in many ways more innovative than the Russians’, especially in developing long-range drones at sea and in the air.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Today, years after most major auto and tech manufacturers pledged self-driving software, just a few major players remain.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
Background No fatalities or major injuries were reported after Friday’s earthquake, whose epicenter was in northern New Jersey.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
One major difference from the 2017 eclipse that cut across the continent is that the 2024 eclipse's path width will be notably wider, according to NASA.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The three major stock indexes, meanwhile, inched upward in early trading on Friday.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
In recent years, Coachella has had seven major stages.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
One major event this summer has many counterterrorism officials on edge.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Double for takeout, hoping partner responds in a major.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
But look at the 2023 earnings reports for some of the top 20 or so majors and an anomaly jumps out: only nine reported positive sales growth, but 16 reported gross margin improvement.
—Greg Petro, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
But as a financial planning major, O’Toole has put in more than enough work outside the mat to carry over to his success when his wrestling career is eventually over.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
This has intensified recruiting drives for aerospace majors at colleges like the Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
But many aerospace majors remain more drawn to buzz than benefits and legacies.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Rosneft and Lukoil, the other Russian oil major with facilities targeted this week, both said that the damage was limited even if fires led to some equipment going offline.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024
But Chega is hoping for a revolution with the help of people like Guilherme Joaquim, an 18-year-old IT major who recently attended a university debate to hear Matias speak.
—Catarina Fernandes Martins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Brisbane Airport in Queensland has announced a healthy string of new airline services from carriers in critical tourism and trade markets, including all three U.S. majors.
—Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Justin and Jayden both plan to major in business with an eye on starting in sports when their playing days are over.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2022
Steen, who intends to major in polymer engineering at Southern Mississippi, hopes the next level will include strong performances in the Class 2A regional and sectional and possibly a trip to the state meet.
—Darren Day, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023
McWright planned to major in communication studies and become a television sports analyst.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2022
And what will major advertisers such as Apple and Amazon do?
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 16 Dec. 2022
Ibrahimi was accepted to Kabul Medical University, to major in public health.
—Nabih Bulos, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2022
In 2020, according to public records, Mr. Aldrich attempted to enroll at Metro State University of Denver, a public university that offers online and in person classes, and intended to major in political science.
—Zusha Elinson, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
In college, Clooten intends to major in sports medicine with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist or chiropractor.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'major.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to major
Dictionary Entries Near major
Cite this Entry
“Major.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
major
1 of 3 adjective
ma·jor
ˈmā-jər 
1
a
: greater in dignity, rank, or importance
a major poet
b
: greater in number, quantity, or extent
received the major part of the blame
2
a
: notable in effect or scope
a major improvement
b
: significant in size, amount, or degree
made some major cash
3
: of or relating to an academic major
4
a
: having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees
major scale
b
: based on a major scale
major key
major chord
major
2 of 3 noun1
: a military commissioned officer with a rank just below that of lieutenant colonel
2
a
: the chief subject studied by a student
chose history as his major
b
: a student specializing in a field
a French major
major
3 of 3 verb
majored; majoring
ˈmāj-(ə-)riŋ
: to study an academic major
major in English
Medical Definition
Biographical Definition
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