minor

minor — adjective

IPA/ˈmaɪnə(r)/
KK[mˈaɪnɚ]IPA/ˈmaɪnər/
  • minorpositive
  • more minorcomparative
  • most minorsuperlative

1. limited in how important, serious, or large something is, so that it does not ma

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

limited in how important, serious, or large something is, so that it does not make much difference or cause big problems

Example

Daichi suffered only minor injuries when his bicycle hit the car.

collocation: minor injuries

The shop made a few minor changes to the product design after customer complaints.

collocation: minor changes

Common collocations
  • minor injury
  • minor change
  • minor role
  • minor problem
  • minor detail
  • minor issue
Synonyms
  • slight

    emphasises very small degree rather than comparative unimportance; 'a slight delay' vs 'a minor delay'

  • trivial

    stronger in dismissing something as unimportant; more informal and negative in tone

  • insignificant

    focuses on having no meaningful effect; more formal than 'minor'

Antonyms
  • major

    direct opposite in degree or importance

  • significant

    implies something matters and should not be ignored

Usage Note

Frequently modifies nouns for problems, injuries, or changes. Does not apply to matters of life safety or large-scale impact — use 'major' for the opposite.

Common Mistakes

He had a minor heart attack and nearly died.
He had a mild heart attack and recovered quickly.
'minor' suggests low seriousness, which contradicts 'nearly died.'

2. describing a musical key, scale, or chord that produces a sound often felt to be

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a musical key, scale, or chord that produces a sound often felt to be sad, dark, or serious — contrasted with major keys that sound brighter

Example

The song starts in a minor key before shifting to a happier melody.

Élise learned to play a minor scale on the piano for her exam.

collocation: minor scale

Common collocations
  • minor key
  • minor scale
  • minor chord
  • in [key] minor
Antonyms
  • major

    the brighter-sounding key and scale system; the direct musical opposite

Usage Note

Commonly follows the key name, e.g. 'C minor', 'A minor'. Use 'major' for the brighter counterpart. This sense only applies to music — do not use it to describe mood outside of musical contexts.

3. relating to the lower-level professional sports leagues where players train and

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to the lower-level professional sports leagues where players train and gain experience before possibly moving up to the top league

Example

Ishaan spent three years on a minor league baseball team before being promoted.

Minor league hockey games in this town draw around two thousand fans.

collocation: minor league hockey / baseball

Common collocations
  • minor league team
  • minor league baseball
  • minor league hockey
  • minor league system
  • minor league club
Antonyms
  • major league

    the top-level professional league; the direct opposite

Usage Note

Predominantly used in American English for baseball and ice hockey. The noun form 'the minors' (plural) is very common as a shorthand reference.

4. relating to a secondary subject that a university student studies with fewer cou

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

relating to a secondary subject that a university student studies with fewer courses than their main subject, which is called the major

Example

Tuan chose to study business as his major and a minor subject in Japanese.

collocation: minor subject

Sivan is taking minor courses in art history alongside her engineering degree.

collocation: minor courses

Common collocations
  • minor subject
  • minor field
  • minor program
  • minor course
  • major and minor
Synonyms
  • secondary subject

    descriptive but less compact than 'minor'; used mainly in formal university documents

Antonyms
  • major

    the main subject of study; requires more courses

Usage Note

Almost always paired with 'major' in academic contexts. Used primarily in North American universities; UK universities more commonly use terms like 'joint honours' or 'subsidiary subject.'

Common Mistakes

I minored in chemistry as my major.
I majored in chemistry and minored in French.
'minor' and 'major' are different levels, not the same.

minor — noun

IPA/ˈmaɪ.nər/
KK[mˈaɪnɚ]IPA/ˈmaɪ.nɚ/

minor — verb

IPA/ˈmaɪ.nər/
KK[mˈaɪnɚ]IPA/ˈmaɪ.nɚ/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something of low importance or degree, but they differ in emphasis and register. 'Minor' is the most neutral and versatile — it simply means 'not large or serious' and works for injuries, problems, details, and roles. 'Slight' emphasises very small size or degree ('a slight delay,' 'a slight improvement') but does not carry the same comparative sense as 'minor.' 'Trivial' is stronger and more dismissive, often suggesting that something is not worth attention at all ('a trivial complaint'); it can sound rude in some contexts. 'Insignificant' focuses on having no meaningful effect or consequence ('an insignificant amount') and is more formal than 'minor.' For a learner choosing between them: use 'minor' for everyday situations where something is small but still matters a little; use 'slight' when the quantity itself is tiny; use 'trivial' only when you intend to dismiss something; and use 'insignificant' in formal or academic writing.

minor ↗slight ↗trivial ↗insignificant ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • only minor
  • relatively minor
  • comparatively minor

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'minor' comes directly from Latin 'minor,' meaning 'smaller' or 'less.' It entered English in the 1300s through French, originally used to describe something lesser in size, importance, or age. In the 1600s it gained the musical sense (contrasting with 'major' scales and keys). The academic use — a secondary subject of study — developed in American universities in the 1800s alongside its counterpart 'major.' The legal sense of an underage person emerged from the same Latin root comparing size or degree.