Major vs. Main: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 26, 2023
Major refers to something greater in significance or rank; Main denotes something chief or principal.
Key Differences
Major and Main are two words used to signify importance, prominence, or dominance in various contexts. Major is usually used to denote something of greater importance, rank, or degree and is often associated with significance in terms of size, amount, or degree. Main, conversely, is used to describe something that is most important, principal, or chief, typically emphasizing its primary or central role in the context it is used.
Major is often employed to convey importance in terms of degree or intensity, such as a major change or a major difference, highlighting the significant impact or magnitude of the subject. Main, however, is primarily used to describe the principal or central subject, entity, or thing in a given context, indicating its prevailing or dominating role, like the main road or the main entrance.
Major can also be used in specific contexts like academic degrees, military ranks, or music to denote higher status, greater significance, or specific characteristics, underlining its versatile nature. In contrast, Main is more straightforward and is generally used to signify the primary or predominant subject, component, or aspect in various scenarios, pointing to its more limited and specific usage.
In situations where significance or importance needs to be stressed, Major is used to convey greater magnitude, significance, or impact, making it suitable for scenarios where the intensity, degree, or extent of something needs to be emphasized. Main, on the other hand, is more suitable for situations where the chief, primary, or principal subject, component, or aspect needs to be pointed out, emphasizing its central or prevailing role.
In essence, while both Major and Main signify importance and prominence, Major leans more towards significance in degree, size, or amount, and Main leans more towards being principal, chief, or central, marking the primary or predominant subject or component in various contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Greater importance, significance or degree
Chief, principal, predominant
Usage
Versatile, used in varied contexts
Specific, denotes principal or central role
Specificity
Can denote specific characteristics in certain contexts
More straightforward, denotes chief or primary
Context of Usage
Can be used in academic, military, etc. contexts
Typically used to denote the central or primary component or subject
Application
Used to signify greater magnitude, significance or impact
Used to signify the principal, central, or chief component or subject
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Major and Main Definitions
Major
Major can refer to a specified field of academic study.
She is pursuing a major in economics.
Main
Main implies being largest in size or degree.
The main road is blocked due to construction.
Major
Major is used to describe the greater of two modes in music.
The piece is composed in a major key.
Main
Main refers to the principal pipe conveying water or gas to buildings.
A leak in the main pipe caused water to flood the streets.
Major
Greater than others in importance or rank
A major artist.
Main
Main means the high sea or open ocean.
The ship sailed out into the main under a clear sky.
Major
Great in scope or effect
A major improvement.
Main
Most important; principal.
Major
Great in number, size, or extent
The major portion of the population.
Main
Exerted to the utmost; sheer
"They took her off the sled by main strength" (Jack London).
Major
Requiring great attention or concern; very serious
A major illness.
Main
(Nautical) Connected to or located near the mainmast
A main skysail.
Major
(Law) Legally recognized as having reached the age of adulthood.
Main
(Obsolete) Of or relating to a continuous area or stretch, as of land or water.
Major
Of or relating to the field of academic study in which a student specializes.
Main
The chief or largest part
His ideas are, in the main, impractical.
Major
Designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees.
Main
The principal pipe or conduit in a system for conveying water, gas, oil, or other utility.
Major
Equivalent to the distance between the tonic note and the second or third or sixth or seventh degrees of a major scale or mode
A major interval.
Main
Physical strength
Fought with might and main.
Major
Based on a major scale
A major key.
Main
A mainland.
Major
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
Main
The open ocean.
Major
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Main
A mainsail.
Major
One that is superior in rank, importance, or ability
An oil-producing country considered as one of the majors.
Main
A mainmast.
Major
(Law) One recognized by the law as having reached the age of adulthood.
Main
The main dish of a meal
"Unsurprisingly, the mains and their house-made condiments were the standouts of a recent meal" (Lindsey Tramuta).
Major
A field of study chosen as an academic specialty.
Main
Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
Major
A student specializing in such studies
A linguistics major.
Main
Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.
Main timbers
Main branch of a river
Main body of an army
Major
A major premise.
Main
Full, sheer, undivided.
Major
A major term.
Main
(dialectal) Big; angry.
Major
A major scale, key, interval, or mode.
Main
(nautical) Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
Major
A chord containing a major third between the first and second notes and a minor third between the second and third notes.
Main
(obsolete) Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.
Major
Majors Sports The major leagues.
Main
Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.
Major
To pursue academic studies in a major
Majoring in mathematics.
Main
To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.
He mains the same character as me in that game.
What race do you main and what is your favourite race to beat?
For new players, I recommend maining the dagger and using the axe as a backup weapon.
Major
(attributive):
Main
(obsolete) To convert (a road) into a main or primary road.
Major
Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
Main
That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
Major
Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
The major part of the assembly
Main
(video gaming) The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.
My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.
Major
Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.
Main
A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.
Major
Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
To earn some major cash
Main
(informal) dish]] of a meal
I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
Major
(medicine) Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
To suffer from a major illness
Main
The high seas.
Major
Of full legal age, having attained majority.
Major children
Main
The mainland.
Major
(education) Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
Main
(nautical) mainsail
Major
(music):
Main
Force, power, strength, violent effort.
Major
Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Major scale
Main
A hand or match in a game of dice.
Major
Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval.
Major third
Main
The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.
Major
(postpositive) of a key Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
Main
A stake played for at dice.
Major
(campanology) Bell changes rung on eight bells.
Main
A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.
Major
Indicating the elder of two brothers, appended to a surname in public schools.
Main
A banker's shovel for coins.
Major
(logic)
Main
A basket for gathering grapes.
Major
Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
Main
A hand or match at dice.
Major
Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
Main
A stake played for at dice.
Major
(military ranks) A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
He used to be a major in the army.
Main
The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.
Major
An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.
Main
A match at cockfighting.
Major
A person of legal age.
Main
A main-hamper.
Major
(music):
Main
Strength; force; might; violent effort.
There were in this battle of most might and main.
He 'gan advance,With huge force, and with importable main.
Major
Ellipsis of major key.
Main
The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing.
Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters.
Major
Ellipsis of major interval.
Main
The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean.
With might and main they chased the murderous fox.
Major
Ellipsis of major scale.
Main
Very or extremely strong.
That current with main fury ran.
Major
(campanology) A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
Main
Vast; huge.
Major
A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
Main
Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer.
Major
The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
Main
Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.
Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
Major
A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.
She is a math major.
Main
Important; necessary.
That which thou arightBelievest so main to our success, I bring.
That Maine which by main force Warwick did win.
Major
(logic):
Main
Very; extremely; as, main heavy.
Major
Ellipsis of major term.
Main
Any very large body of (salt) water
Major
Ellipsis of major premise.
Main
A principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
Major
(bridge) major suit.
Main
Most important element;
The chief aim of living
The main doors were of solid glass
The principal rivers of America
The principal example
Policemen were primary targets
Major
(Canadian football) A touchdown, or major score.
Main
Of a clause; able to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence;
The main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb
Major
(Australian rules football) A goal.
Main
Of force; of the greatest possible intensity;
By main strength
Major
An elder brother (especially at a public school).
Main
Main denotes being of chief or principal importance.
The main reason for his success is hard work.
Major
(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
Main
Main signifies being central or primary in place or position.
The main entrance is at the front of the building.
Major
(obsolete) mayor and {{en}}.
Major
(intransitive) major in
Major
Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the territory.
Major
Of greater dignity; more important.
Major
Of full legal age; adult.
Major
Greater by a semitone, either in interval or in difference of pitch from another tone.
Major
An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.
Major
A person of full age.
Major
That premise which contains the major term. It its the first proposition of a regular syllogism; as: No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven [the major]. Every man in his natural state is unholy [minor]. Therefore, no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven [conclusion or inference].
Major
A mayor.
Major
A commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines; below lieutenant colonel and above captain
Major
British statesman who was prime minister from 1990 until 1997 (born in 1943)
Major
A university student who is studying a particular field as the principal subject;
She is a linguistics major
Major
The principal field of study of a student at a university;
Her major is linguistics
Major
Have as one's principal field of study;
She is majoring in linguistics
Major
Of greater importance or stature or rank;
A major artist
A major role
Major highways
Major
Greater in scope or effect;
A major contribution
A major improvement
A major break with tradition
A major misunderstanding
Major
Greater in number or size or amount;
A major portion (a majority) of the population
Ursa Major
A major portion of the winnings
Major
Of the field of academic study in which one concentrates or specializes;
His major field was mathematics
Major
Of a scale or mode;
Major scales
The key of D major
Major
Of greater seriousness or danger;
A major earthquake
A major hurricane
A major illness
Major
Of full legal age;
Major children
Major
Of the elder of two boys with the same family name;
Jones major
Major
Major refers to greater in importance, rank, or degree.
This is a major breakthrough in medical science.
Major
Major denotes something greater in amount, extent, or size.
The project is a major investment for the company.
Major
Major implies having greater significance or influence.
The major factors contributing to climate change need immediate attention.
FAQs
Does Major refer to greater importance or degree?
Yes, Major denotes something of greater importance, degree, or significance.
Can Major denote a specific field of academic study?
Absolutely, Major can refer to a specified field of academic study or concentration.
Does Main denote something primary in position or place?
Yes, Main denotes something that is central or primary in place or position.
Is Main used to denote something chief or principal?
Yes, Main is used to signify something that is chief, principal, or most important.
Can Main refer to the principal pipe supplying water?
Yes, Main can refer to the principal pipe conveying water or gas to buildings.
Is Major used to describe the greater of two modes in music?
Yes, Major is used to describe the greater or more upbeat of two modes in music.
Is Major used to emphasize significance or influence?
Indeed, Major is used to emphasize greater significance, influence, or impact.
Can Major imply greater size or amount?
Yes, Major can imply something greater in size, amount, or extent.
Does Main signify the high sea or open ocean?
Yes, Main also means the high sea or open ocean.
Can Main be used to denote the chief reason or cause?
Certainly, Main can be used to denote the chief, primary, or predominant reason or cause.
Is Major versatile in its usage across different contexts?
Yes, Major is versatile and can be used in various contexts to denote greater significance, amount, or degree.
Does Main imply being largest in size or degree?
Indeed, Main implies being largest in size, degree, or extent.
Can Major refer to something having greater impact or magnitude?
Absolutely, Major can refer to something having greater impact, magnitude, or significance.
Is Main more straightforward in its application?
Yes, Main is more straightforward and typically denotes something principal or central.
Can Major be related to military ranks?
Yes, Major is also a military rank above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
