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
Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024
Five major New York companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—take turns in programs featuring works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Brady Farrar, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.
—The New Yorker, 28 June 2024
Jack Bantock, CNN, 28 June 2024
Kerr breaks the tournament record for victory margin of 11 set by Betsy King in 1992 and matches the second-biggest victory in a major.
2013 — NBA Draft: UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett first pick Cleveland Cavaliers.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 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
See all Example Sentences for major 
Adjective
Trump has been a frequent critic of Biden's EV stance — saying the cars are unpopular compared to their gasoline counterparts and that pushing EV sales will be bad for the automotive industry, despite major automakers all making plans of their own to expand EV sales within their fleets.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024
Five major New York companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—take turns in programs featuring works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Brady Farrar, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.
—The New Yorker, 28 June 2024
Noun
Last year’s victory – Langer’s 46th on the PGA Tour Champions and 12th senior major – saw the two-time Masters winner become the most successful golfer in the circuit’s history.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 28 June 2024
Kerr breaks the tournament record for victory margin of 11 set by Betsy King in 1992 and matches the second-biggest victory in a major.
2013 — NBA Draft: UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett first pick Cleveland Cavaliers.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 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
See all Example Sentences for major
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 7 Jul. 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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