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Definition of major adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

major

adjective
 OPAL WOPAL S
 
/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/
 
/ˈmeɪdʒər/
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  1.  
     [usually before noun] very large or important
    • a major road
    • Some major international companies refused to do business with them.
    • He played a major role in setting up the system.
    • major sporting events
    • a major issue/factor/project/challenge
    • We have encountered major problems.
    • Four major cities agreed to ban diesel cars by 2025.
    • There were calls for major changes to the welfare system.
    opposite minor
    Synonyms mainmainmajor ▪ key ▪ central ▪ principal ▪ chief ▪ primeThese words all describe somebody/​something that is the largest or most important of its kind.main [only before noun] largest or most important:
    • Be careful crossing the main road.
    • The main thing is to remain calm.
    major [usually before noun] very large or important:
    • He played a major role in setting up the system.
    When major is used with the or my/​your/​his/​her/​our/​their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.     key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
    • He was a key figure in the campaign.
    Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.     central (rather formal) most important:
    • The central issue is that of widespread racism.
    Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.     principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
    • The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
    Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/​central issue here is…     chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
    • Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
    prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
    • My prime concern is to protect my property.
    Patterns
    • a/​the main/​major/​key/​central/​principal/​chief/​prime aim/​concern
    • a/​the main/​major/​principal road/​town/​city
    • the main/​key thing is to…
    • to be of major/​key/​central/​prime importance
    Extra Examples
    • He had major surgery on his back and moves slowly.
    • Our major concern here is combating poverty.
    • The openness of the internet is a major part of its appeal.
    • These companies are all major players in the food industry.
  2. [not before noun] serious
    • Never mind—it's not major.
  3. (music) based on a scale (= a series of eight notes) in which the third note is two whole tones / steps higher than the first note
    • the key of D major
    • the eight notes of the major scale
    compare minorTopics Musicc1
  4. (North American English) related to somebody’s main subject of study in college
    5. Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin, comparative of magnus ‘great’; perhaps influenced by French majeur.
See major in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee major in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: major

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