Major vs. Mayor: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 21, 2023
Major refers to greater importance or rank, or an army officer rank, while Mayor is the elected head of a city or town.
Key Differences
Major and Mayor, while phonetically similar, have distinct meanings and usages. Major can describe something of greater significance or denote a military rank. On the other hand, a Mayor is an elected official overseeing a city or town.
If someone is discussing a Major breakthrough in science, they are emphasizing its significance. However, when someone refers to meeting the Mayor, they're talking about the individual leading the local government of a city or town.
Within the military hierarchy, a Major holds a rank above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel. Meanwhile, the term Mayor remains consistent in its meaning, reflecting a role in civic governance and not military structure.
Colleges and universities often use the term Major to indicate a student's primary field of study. In contrast, no matter the context or country, Mayor always connects to the governance of a city or municipality.
It's essential to be cautious when using Major and Mayor because, despite their similar sounds, their meanings are worlds apart. One dives into importance, rank, and studies, while the other is firmly rooted in local governance.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Greater in importance/rank; military rank
Elected head of a city or town
Contextual Usage
Military, academia, significance
Local governance
Part of Speech
Adjective, noun
Noun
Etymology
Latin "maior" meaning "greater"
Old French "maire" meaning "chief, leader"
Phonetic Similarity
Sounds similar to "Mayor"
Sounds similar to "Major"
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Major and Mayor Definitions
Major
Greater in importance, extent, or size.
It's a Major decision to make.
Mayor
A title for a municipal leader.
Mayor Smith was present at the event.
Major
Of a specified age.
He's a Major now, no longer a minor.
Mayor
The highest-ranking official in a municipal government.
The Mayor is responsible for the city's day-to-day operations.
Major
Greater than others in importance or rank
A major artist.
Mayor
The elected head of a city, town, or other municipality.
The Mayor inaugurated the new library.
Major
Great in scope or effect
A major improvement.
Mayor
The chief magistrate of certain cities.
The Mayor of London has a ceremonial role.
Major
Great in number, size, or extent
The major portion of the population.
Mayor
The head of government of a city, town, borough, or municipal corporation.
Major
Requiring great attention or concern; very serious
A major illness.
Mayor
The chief executive of the municipal government of a city, borough, etc., formerly (historical) usually appointed as a caretaker by European royal courts but now usually appointed or elected locally.
Major
(Law) Legally recognized as having reached the age of adulthood.
Mayor
(historical) nodot=1, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire.
Major
Of or relating to the field of academic study in which a student specializes.
Mayor
(historical) mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.
Major
Designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees.
Mayor
A member of a city council.
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.
Mayor
A high justice, an important judge.
Major
Based on a major scale
A major key.
Mayor
A largely ceremonial position in some municipal governments that presides over the city council while a contracted city manager holds actual executive power.
Major
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
Mayor
A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead some local group.
Major
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Mayor
The chief magistrate of a city or borough; the chief administrative officer of a municipal corporation. In some American cities there is a city court of which the major is chief judge. The post is usually elective, its holder chosen by the electorate of the entire city.
Major
One that is superior in rank, importance, or ability
An oil-producing country considered as one of the majors.
Mayor
The head of a city government
Major
(Law) One recognized by the law as having reached the age of adulthood.
Mayor
An honorific title for a distinguished municipal citizen.
He was given the title Honorary Mayor for his contributions.
Major
A field of study chosen as an academic specialty.
Major
A student specializing in such studies
A linguistics major.
Major
A major premise.
Major
A major term.
Major
A major scale, key, interval, or mode.
Major
A chord containing a major third between the first and second notes and a minor third between the second and third notes.
Major
Majors Sports The major leagues.
Major
To pursue academic studies in a major
Majoring in mathematics.
Major
(attributive):
Major
Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
Major
Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
The major part of the assembly
Major
Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.
Major
Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
To earn some major cash
Major
(medicine) Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
To suffer from a major illness
Major
Of full legal age, having attained majority.
Major children
Major
(education) Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
Major
(music):
Major
Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Major scale
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
Major
(postpositive) of a key Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
Major
(campanology) Bell changes rung on eight bells.
Major
Indicating the elder of two brothers, appended to a surname in public schools.
Major
(logic)
Major
Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
Major
Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
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.
Major
An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.
Major
A person of legal age.
Major
(music):
Major
Ellipsis of major key.
Major
Ellipsis of major interval.
Major
Ellipsis of major scale.
Major
(campanology) A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
Major
A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
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.
Major
A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.
She is a math major.
Major
(logic):
Major
Ellipsis of major term.
Major
Ellipsis of major premise.
Major
(bridge) major suit.
Major
(Canadian football) A touchdown, or major score.
Major
(Australian rules football) A goal.
Major
An elder brother (especially at a public school).
Major
(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
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
A specialized field of study in college or university.
She chose psychology as her Major.
Major
The primary musical tonality.
The song is in C Major.
Major
An officer rank in the military above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
The Major issued new orders to the battalion.
FAQs
How is the role of a Mayor typically determined?
The Mayor is usually an elected official of a city or town.
Can Major be used to describe importance?
Yes, Major can denote something of greater significance or importance.
Is Major exclusively a military rank?
No, while Major is a military rank, it also has other meanings, including a primary field of study in academia.
Are the words Major and Mayor interchangeable?
No, they have distinct meanings despite sounding similar.
What does Major signify in a university setting?
In academia, a Major refers to a student's primary field of study.
Is Mayor a military term?
No, Mayor refers to the elected head of a city or town.
Can Major be used as both a noun and adjective?
Yes, Major can be both a noun (e.g., military rank) and an adjective (e.g., major problem).
Does every city have a Mayor?
Not necessarily; the head of local governance varies by region and may not always be titled "Mayor."
Is there a minor rank in the military like there's a Major?
No, in the military context, there isn't a "minor" rank opposite to Major.
Do all Majors in the army become Mayors?
No, the terms Major (military rank) and Mayor (civic leader) are unrelated in their roles.
What's the opposite of a song in Major tonality?
The opposite would be a song in minor tonality.
Which term relates to local governance?
Mayor is the term related to local governance.
How do you address a Mayor?
Typically, you address them as "Mayor [Last Name]."
Are there any similarities in the roles of a Major and Mayor?
Not inherently; one pertains to military or significance, and the other to local governance.
Which term has its origins in Latin?
Major originates from the Latin "maior," meaning "greater."
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
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
