major

Major is an adjective and a noun with several related but distinct meanings. Etymologically from the Latin maior meaning “greater,” it denotes greater size, extent, or importance relative to something else. In general usage, it can describe something of greater significance or ranking, and in everyday language contrasts with minor.

In higher education, a major is a student's primary field of study. A student typically declares a major and completes a prescribed set of courses and requirements within that discipline, earning a degree in that field. The term is most common in the United States and other systems that separate majors and minors; other systems use “degree program” or “subject of study.”

In military use, Major is a commissioned officer rank. In many armed forces, it sits above Captain and below Lieutenant Colonel and is signified by insignia (e.g., a gold oak leaf in the U.S. Army and Air Force). Duties vary but often include command of a company or serving as staff officers.

In music, major refers to a set of tonalities, chords, and scales that have a bright, stable quality, as opposed to minor. A major scale follows the pattern tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone, and major chords are built with a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. A composition’s key or mode may be described as major or minor.

Other uses include legal and mathematical senses where “major” denotes greater value or degree relative to a benchmark; in mathematics, a major arc is the longer arc of a circle; in statistics, a variable may be a major contributor. The term is also used as a surname and part of many proper names.