Minor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈmī-nər/ mi·nor

Meaning & Definition of Minor

Minor (adjective)

  1. inferior in importance, size, or degree, comparatively unimportant
  2. not having reached majority
  3. having half steps between the second and third, the fifth and sixth, and sometimes the seventh and eighth degrees

Minor (noun)

  1. a person who is not yet old enough to have the rights of an adult
  2. a minor musical interval, scale, key, or mode
  3. a minor academic subject

Minor (verb)

  1. to take courses in a minor subject

Minor (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having not so great importance or rank as another

    "some minor official with an exaggerated sense of his own importance"

    similar: inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, smaller, subordinate
    related: little, mean, small, minute, petty, jerkwater, one-horse, second-class, second-rate, two-bit, associate, auxiliary, secondary, subsidiary
    opposite: greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate
    near: choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate

  2. of little or less value or merit

    "a minor poet who is little read nowadays"

    similar: inferior, mean, second-class, second-rate, secondary
    related: junior, lesser, lower, low-level, petty, smaller, subordinate, under, average, common, fair, middling, ordinary, amiss, bad, defective, unsatisfactory, wrong, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, littler, slighter, jerkwater, low-rent, one-horse, small-time, two-bit
    opposite: greater, higher, superior
    near: major, more, primary, senior, choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, high-grade, premium, prime, select, selected, acceptable, adequate, sufficient

  3. lacking importance

    "only a minor detail, which we can easily disregard for the moment"

    similar: fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial, unimportant, neither here nor there
    related: jerkwater, one-horse, nickel-and-dime, paltry, petty, small-time, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown
    opposite: big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty
    near: decisive, fatal, fateful, chief, dominant, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, principal, distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, preeminent, prestigious, famous, notorious, renowned, all-important, basic, essential, fundamental, key

Minor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in kid, teenager

    similar: adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster, boy, boychick, boyo (Irish), callant (chiefly Scottish), lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, youth, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper, schoolboy, toddler, tot, tyke, mama's boy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Minor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Minor:

Irish: boyo
Chiefly Scottish: callant
inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, smaller, subordinate, mean, second-class, second-rate, secondary, fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial, unimportant, neither here nor there, adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Minor

Words with the opposite meaning of Minor:

greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate, big, consequential, eventful, important, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty

Related Words for Minor

petty, jerkwater, one-horse, two-bit, associate, auxiliary, subsidiary, low-level, under, average, common, fair, middling, ordinary, amiss, bad, defective, unsatisfactory, wrong, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, littler, slighter, low-rent, small-time, nickel-and-dime, paltry, worthless

Near Antonyms of Minor

choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, high-grade, premium, select, selected, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, decisive, fatal, fateful, chief, dominant, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, principal, distinctive, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent

Word Forms of Minor

Inflections: minored, minoring, minors

Origin & Etymology of Minor

Latin, smaller, inferior; akin to Old High German minniro smaller, Latin minuere to lessen

First known use: 1526

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Minor

Words & Phrases Containing Minor

minor axis, minor element, minor league, minor order, minor party, minor penalty, minor planet

Frequently Asked Questions about Minor

What does "Minor" mean?

"Minor" means inferior in importance, size, or degree, comparatively unimportant. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: inferior in importance, size, or degree, comparatively unimportant. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Minor"?

Other words for "Minor" include inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, smaller, subordinate and mean. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Minor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Minor"?

There are 100 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Minor". Common alternatives include inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, smaller, subordinate, mean, second-class and second-rate.

What is the opposite of "Minor"?

Antonyms of "Minor" include greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior and superior. Near antonyms include choice, exceptional, first-class and first-rate.

How do you use "Minor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Minor" in a sentence: "some minor official with an exaggerated sense of his own importance"; "a minor poet who is little read nowadays"; "only a minor detail, which we can easily disregard for the moment".

Is "Minor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Minor" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Minor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Minor" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Minor"?

"Minor" is pronounced /ˈmī-nər/ and divided into syllables as mi·nor.