Meaning & use

major

adjective·Everyday

Greater in importance, size, or seriousness than most other things of the same kind.

See it in a sentence

The company announced a major restructuring that will affect thousands of employees.

Losing his job was a major setback for the family's finances.

A note on using this word

"Major" also names a military officer rank and, as a verb, a chosen university field, as in "major in biology."

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A military officer ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel.

The major briefed the troops carefully before dawn broke over the camp.

Make it your own

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