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
Freshman cornerback Max Williams is dealing with a minor hamstring injury and should be back next week, Helton said. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, "Bru McCoy, USC’s prize receiving prospect, has been unable to practice because of illness," 15 Aug. 2019 The cause of the fire is under investigation, and Cal Fire said one firefighter had a minor injury. — Curtis Driscoll, The Mercury News, "Moose Fire: Mendocino County wildfire now at 225 acres 25 percent contained," 15 Aug. 2019 About 50 other inmates were treated for minor injuries, the department said. — Phil Helsel, NBC News, "200 inmates riot at California prison; dozens injured," 15 Aug. 2019 With DJ Dale still out with a minor injury, Phidarian Mathis is still in the first rotation in the middle of the defensive line next to Raekwon Davis and freshman Justin Eboigbe. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "Alabama practice report: Notes from steamy outdoor workout," 15 Aug. 2019 Police later confirmed that no shots were fired, but two people sustained minor injuries from the rushing crowds. — Houston Chronicle, "New surveillance released of people sought after Memorial City Mall panic," 14 Aug. 2019 Eleven students were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries after their private school van was involved in a Monday morning crash near the intersection of Edgewater Drive and John Young Parkway, officials say. — Monivette Cordeiro, orlandosentinel.com, "Private school van crash near Edgewater Drive sends 11 students to hospitals with minor injuries," 12 Aug. 2019 Williams suffered a minor rib injury in Saturday's loss. — Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, "Bengals notebook: Michael Jordan getting reps with starters, Ryan Finley playing No. 2 QB," 12 Aug. 2019 Ten people received minor injuries in a seven-vehicle crash Saturday on I-94, the Racine County Sheriff's Office said. — William Langhorne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 people injured in seven-vehicle crash on I-94 in Racine County," 10 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Ryan Court, a 31-year-old outfielder, made his major league debut with Seattle on July 26 after spending parts of eight seasons in the minors with four organizations, including the Red Sox from 2016-17. — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "Why the Indians are a major threat to win the AL pennant," 17 Aug. 2019 Based on his production in the minors this season, the hope doesn’t seem far-fetched. — Nick Piecoro, azcentral, "Arizona Diamondbacks hope Josh Rojas can spark offense in return to hometown," 13 Aug. 2019 In 91 innings in the minors, Strickland has struck out 103 hitters in just 91.1 innings while tossing to a 2.96 ERA. — oregonlive.com, "Examining the Seattle Mariners’ moves at the MLB trade deadline," 2 Aug. 2019 Senzel twice missed time in the minors with vertigo. — John Fay, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds notes: Alex Wood to debut Sunday, Nick Senzel update," 25 July 2019 Keeping Hiura in the minors can also benefit the Brewers from a contract perspective, though Stearns said that circumstance was not a factor. — Greg Luca, ExpressNews.com, "After strong stint with Milwaukee Brewers, Hiura lands back with San Antonio Missions," 13 June 2019 His father, Aaron, played three years in the minors, and his brother, Connor, was drafted last year by the Angels. — Matt Breen, https://www.inquirer.com, "2019 MLB draft: Live updates of Phillies picks on Day 3," 5 June 2019 The Rangers are thin at third base in the minors, but amateur scouting director Kip Fagg said that need wasn’t a consideration. — Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers fill need with 8th overall pick. But that’s not why they took Texas Tech star," 3 June 2019 Two players on the current roster, Canadians Braden Holtby and Brett Connolly, and Devante Smith-Pelly, who is in the minors, did not visit the White House. — Bloomberg.com, "Trump Hosts Stanley Cup Champion Capitals at White House," 25 Mar. 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.