major

word

/ˈmeɪdʒɝ/
MAY-jur
/mˈeɪdʒɐ/
MAY-juh

Definition

Describes something or someone that is very important, large, or serious. Also refers to a student's main field of study at university, a military rank, or a type of musical scale.

Usage & Nuances

Used in formal and informal contexts. Collocates with 'role', 'problem', 'change', etc. As a noun, 'major' often means a university field of study, especially in American English. In music, it refers to a type of scale; in the military, it is an officer rank. Do not confuse with 'minor' (the opposite).

Spanish: principal - importante - especialidad (universidad) - mayor (música) - comandante (rango militar)Portuguese (BR): principal - importante - curso principal (universidade) - maior (música) - major (posto militar)Portuguese (PT): principal - importante - curso principal (universidade) - maior (música) - major (posto militar)Chinese (Simplified): 主要的 - 重要的 - 主修（大学专业） - 大调（音乐） - 少校（军衔）Chinese (Traditional): 主要的 - 重要的 - 主修（大學科目） - 大調（音樂） - 少校（軍銜）Hindi: मुख्य - महत्वपूर्ण - मुख्य विषय (विश्वविद्यालय में) - मेजर (संगीत, सैन्य रैंक)Arabic: رئيسي - هام - تخصص (جامعي) - كبير (موسيقى) - رائد (رتبة عسكرية)Bengali: প্রধান - বড় - গুরুতর - মেজর (সামরিক পদবি) - মূল বিষয় (বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে)Russian: основной - главный - мейджор (военное звание) - специальность (в университете)Japanese: 主要な - メジャー（軍隊の階級） - 専攻（大学の専攻分野）Vietnamese: chính - lớn - quan trọng - ngành học chính (ở đại học) - thiếu tá (quân đội)Korean: 주요한 - 메이저(군 계급) - 전공(대학)Turkish: önemli - büyük - ana dal (üniversitede) - majör (askeri rütbe/nota dizisi)Urdu: اہم - بڑا - میجر (فوجی عہدہ) - مرکزی مضمون (یونیورسٹی)Indonesian: utama - besar - penting - mayor (pangkat militer) - jurusan (di universitas)

Example Sentences

Switching your major halfway through college isn’t easy.

natural

This is a major problem for the company.

basic

Her major is biology.

basic

He was promoted to major in the army.

basic

The weather is going to be a major factor in the race.

natural

We need to make some major changes around here.

natural