major
UK: ˈmeɪdʒə | US: ˈmeɪdʒər
adj. greater in size, importance, or quantity
n. a military rank above captain
n. a principal subject or course of study
vi. to specialize in a particular academic field
The word major traces back to Latin maior, meaning "greater" or "larger," derived from magnus (great). It entered English via Old French maior, retaining its comparative sense. The suffix -or (as in senior) reinforces its comparative nature. Over time, major expanded semantically to denote importance (e.g., "major issue"), military rank, and academic specialization.
She chose psychology as her major in college.
The team faced a major setback in the project.
He was promoted to the rank of major last year.
Climate change is a major concern globally.
She decided to major in environmental science.