Major Meaning
/ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjGreater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
adjGreater in number, quantity, or extent.
Sentence Examples
What's your major field?
Tension is a major cause of heart disease.
The activation of several target genes results in two major effects.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The city faced a ____ problem when the main bridge over the river suddenly collapsed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company made a ____ investment in new technology to improve its production and stay very competitive.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂yōs Proto-Italic *magjōs Latin maiorder. Middle English major English major From Middle English major, from Latin maior, comparative of magnus (“great, large; noble, important”), from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂yōs (“greater”), comparative of *meǵh₂- (“great”). Compare West Frisian majoar (“major”), Dutch majoor (“major”), French majeur. Doublet of mayor. Noun sense 1 is a shortening of sergeant major, perhaps after Spanish mayor in the same sense.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation."
— 2013 June 13, Karen McVeigh, “US supreme court rules human genes cannot be patented”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 10:
"I gotta take a whiz test to my PO / I know I failed 'cause I done smoked major weed, bro"
— 1995, “I Got 5 on It”, in Operation Stackola, performed by Luniz:
"[B]y the time I turned back to the screen, Jamie was fully dressed, major bummer."
— 1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 129:
"At the end of last year, the band re-signed to XL for another three albums, despite being chased by majors that included Island, says manager Mike Champion of Midi Management."
— 1997, Dominic Pride, “U.S. success caps global impact of XL's prodigy”, in Billboard, volume 109, number 30, page 86:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The city faced a ____ problem when the main bridge over the river suddenly collapsed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company made a ____ investment in new technology to improve its production and stay very competitive.