How do you pronounce major?

The recorded pronunciation is [ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒɚ].

Where does major come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

major

[ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒɚ]

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.30 in modern English

Syllables: ma-jor
IPA: [ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒɚ]

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.

adj

Greater in number, quantity, or extent.

adj

Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.

adj

Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.

adj

Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.

adj

Of full legal age, having attained majority.

adj

Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.

adj

Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. (of a scale)

Example Sentences

"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."
"the major part of the assembly"
"The three major religions are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity."
"The five major religions are Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism."
"The building underwent a major renovation."
"Believing as he did that all differences of view, not only on questions of major principle and strategy but also in matters of organization, in the last resort 'reflected' class antagonisms […]"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *méǵyōs Proto-Italic *majjōs 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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: major, maior, *méǵh₂yōs, mayor, -, Meyer

Regional Pronunciation

American English: [ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒɚ]
British English: [ˈmeɪ̯d͡ʒə(ɹ)]

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Military.

Inflected Forms

more major (comparative) most major (superlative) majour (alternative, obsolete) majors (plural) majors (present, singular) majoring (participle, present) majored (participle, past) majored (past)

Derived Forms

comajor generalmajor majorally majorate majoress majorise majoritarily majority majorization majorly semimajor submajor

Phrases

A-flat major aid-major A major A-sharp major Asia Major B-flat major B major brigade major

Frequently Paired Words

état major labia major pectoralis major psoas major rectus capitis posterior major rhomboid major teres major vis major

Synonyms

main considerable course

Antonyms

minor

Rhymes With

wager pager ager yager stager gauger crager rager cager supermajor midmajor nonmajor