minor
adjective
mi·nor
| \ ˈmī-nər
\
\
Definition of minor
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: inferior in importance, size, or degree : comparatively unimportant
a minor artist
2
: not having reached majority (see majority sense 2)
He is the father of minor children.
3a
: having half steps between the second and third, the fifth and sixth, and sometimes the seventh and eighth degrees
minor scale
b
: based on a minor scale
minor key
c
: less by a semitone than the corresponding major interval
minor third
d
: having a minor third above the root
minor triad
4
: not serious or involving risk to life
minor illness
5
: of or relating to an academic subject requiring fewer courses than a major
his minor subjects for his M.A. were plant ecology and entomology — Current Biography
minor
nounDefinition of minor (Entry 2 of 3)
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
3a
: a minor academic subject
b
: a student taking a specified minor
4
: a determinant or matrix obtained from a given determinant or matrix by eliminating the row and column in which a given element lies
5
minors plural
: minor league baseball
—used with the
minor
verb
minored;
minoring;
minors
Definition of minor (Entry 3 of 3)
: to take courses in a minor subject
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Synonyms & Antonyms for minor
Synonyms: Adjective
inferior, junior, less, lesser, lower, smaller, subordinate
Antonyms: Adjective
greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate
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Examples of minor in a Sentence
Adjective
Her role in the project was minor. I'm not worried about minor details. The grant covered only a minor part of the cost. The delay will be minor. He suffered a minor heart attack.Noun
families with children who are still minors The nightclub was shut down for selling alcohol to a minor. She majored in chemistry with a minor in biology.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The victim suffered minor injuries, authorities said. — Washington Post, "Suspect sought in attack on deaf woman," 31 Aug. 2019 Two firefighters sustained minor injuries in the blaze, the statement said. — Alyssa Lukpat, BostonGlobe.com, "Workers cutting metal ignited 3-alarm blaze that destroyed Lawrence home," 29 Aug. 2019 As camp progressed, Beaudry appeared to separate himself (as Leon sat with a minor injury), but coach Randy Edsall continued to hold off on naming a starter. — Alex Putterman, courant.com, "Mike Beaudry is UConn’s starting quarterback. But can he keep the job?," 29 Aug. 2019 Two cases of minor burn injuries have been reported. — Doug Criss, CNN, "More than 26,000 glass cooktops have been recalled because they can turn themselves on," 29 Aug. 2019 The suspect was treated for minor burn injuries at the scene and then taken into custody, said sheriff’s Sgt. — Marin Independent Journal, The Mercury News, "73-year old man arrested for allegedly starting with Marin wildfire," 28 Aug. 2019 Two of its officers suffered what were described as minor injuries and were going to be examined at a local hospital, Riverside police Major Matthew Sturgeon said. — Phil Helsel, NBC News, "2 killed in crash with stolen police cruiser in Dayton," 27 Aug. 2019 Three other laborers suffered minor injuries, fire officials said. — Rebecca Liebson, New York Times, "7 Relatives Worked at a Construction Site. Then Came a Deadly Collapse.," 27 Aug. 2019 The two people struck were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. — Stephanie Butzer, The Denver Post, "Denver police searching for driver who crashed into group of people, fled the scene," 26 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Judge Gee is expected to receive filings about the regulation from both the government and lawyers for the nation's unaccompanied minors late Friday. — Graham Kates, CBS News, "More than 20 organizations ask judge to block indefinite detainment of migrant children," 30 Aug. 2019 State troopers were notified Tuesday morning of allegations that a principal at the school was in possession of and possibly distributing explicit images involving a minor. — Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky principal who banned books over 'homosexual content' faces child porn charges," 29 Aug. 2019 But instead of facing the harsher penalties meant to stop such crimes in Guatemala, Gehovany received only four years in prison, a short sentence even by the country’s lenient standard for minors. — Azam Ahmed, New York Times, "Women Are Fleeing Death at Home. The U.S. Wants to Keep Them Out.," 18 Aug. 2019 Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors went into effect earlier this month. — Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, "Colorado’s new ban on conversion therapy wouldn’t have protected these LGBTQ women. Here’s why.," 18 Aug. 2019 When asked why the US Attorney chose trafficking charges specifically, a spokesperson noted to Vox that assault of a minor is not a federal crime. — Anna North, Vox, "What Jeffrey Epstein’s case says (and doesn’t say) about human trafficking in America," 16 Aug. 2019 And there also needs to be better safeguards for minors outside the EU. — Ini-obong Nkang, Quartz Africa, "Europe’s search for soccer’s next big star is driving a modern-day slave trade," 14 Aug. 2019 Cooper’s order forbids funds controlled by executive branch agencies from paying for such therapy for minors. — USA TODAY, "Emoji house, Saharan dust, turtle crossing: News from around our 50 states," 8 Aug. 2019 Penalties for minors involved in selling remained serious, and in some cases police shifted the main targets for arrest from black and brown adults to black and brown kids. — Livia Gershon, Longreads, "Pot Luck," 30 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Most Auburn students minoring in German are engineering majors. — USA TODAY, "Crystal Cathedral reborn Catholic, 'Conjuring' house, Wiki ‘editathon’: News from around our 50 states," 11 July 2019 In 1948 George graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Tufts College (now University), majoring in biology and chemistry, minoring in physics. — Sun-Sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 7/13," 13 July 2018 Lazaro, who majored in Sports Management and minored in Marketing, graduated from FIU on April 28. — Walter Villa, miamiherald, "In a year in which FIU baseball swept UM, find out which Panther shocked a Canes star," 29 May 2018 But the book will also contain Ben's perspective; though now a skilled woodworker, Ben actually majored in history and minored in English and creative writing. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Golly, Y'all! Home Town's Erin and Ben Napier Just Scored Their First Book Deal," 29 Mar. 2018 Yet virtually all of them matriculated to college, with 30 percent at top 100 national universities, and 85 percent majoring or minoring in computer science. — Christina Lewis, The Root, "Change Your Life by Celebrating Failure," 19 Mar. 2018 Clark started his radio career in 1945 after minoring in radio at Syracuse. — Matthew Glenesk, Indianapolis Star, "IndyStar 2018 NCAA tournament celebrity alumni bracket," 12 Mar. 2018 Hefner graduated in 1949 and also double-minored in creative writing and art. — Kate Beckman, Cosmopolitan, "15 Things You Never Knew About Hugh Hefner," 25 June 2015 T-Bob graduated from LSU with a degree in general studies, but he also may have minored in general mayhem. — Ron Higgins, NOLA.com, "When is more information TMI? T-Bob Hebert asks, no ifs, ands, or butts ...," 9 Aug. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'minor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.