# major

/ˈmeɪdʒɝ/ (US) · /mˈeɪdʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/major
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. important or serious

adjective · CEFR A2

very important, large, or serious when compared to others.

For teachers: greater in importance, size, or scope than others of the same kind.

- The city is facing a major problem with traffic during the rush hour.
- The government announced a major shift in economic policy following the unexpected rise in inflation rates.

### 2. music

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a scale or key that often sounds bright or happy.

For teachers: relating to a scale with a semitone between the third and fourth degrees, typically associated with a bright or cheerful tonality.

- The song is written in C major, which gives it a very joyful feeling.
- The symphony transitions from a somber C minor opening to a triumphant finale in the parallel major key.

### 3. academic subject

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

the main subject that a student studies at a college or university.

For teachers: the principal field of study in which a student chooses to specialise for an undergraduate degree.

- She decided to change her major from history to biology in her second year.
- After completing his core requirements, he declared a major in international relations with a minor in economics.

Usage: often used with the possessive, as in 'What is your major?'

### 4. military rank

noun · CEFR B2

an officer in the army or air force who is above a captain.

For teachers: a commissioned officer rank in many armies, positioned above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

- The major ordered the soldiers to prepare for the morning exercise.
- Having served with distinction in the field, she was promoted to the rank of major and assigned to headquarters.

### 5. to specialise in a subject

verb · CEFR B1 · American English

to study one particular subject as your main focus at university.

For teachers: to pursue a specific academic field as one's primary area of specialisation.

- If you want to work in a bank, you should major in finance or business.
- She intends to major in computer science while maintaining a heavy course load in mathematics and logic.

Usage: intransitive verb; almost always used with the preposition 'in'

## Examples

- She decided to change her major from history to biology.
- After completing his general education requirements, he declared a major in computer science to focus on software engineering.
- The university requires all students to complete a capstone project within their chosen major before they are eligible for graduation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.