Major vs. Mayor — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 24, 2023
"Major" refers to something greater in importance or rank, while "mayor" is the elected head of a city or town.
Difference Between Major and Mayor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The word "major" predominantly serves as an adjective indicating something of greater importance, size, or degree. Conversely, "mayor" is a noun that specifically refers to the elected leader or head of a city, town, or other municipality. This individual is typically responsible for governing and representing the municipality and its residents.
In another context, "major" can also denote a primary area of study in academic contexts or signify a rank in the military. This makes "major" a versatile word with various applications depending on the context. In contrast, "mayor" maintains its specific role in the realm of governance and local administration.
While "major" might be used in multiple scenarios ranging from describing an event's significance to indicating a student's field of study, "mayor" consistently points towards a municipal leadership role.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective/Noun
Noun
Definition
Greater in importance or rank
Elected head of a city or town
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Contexts
General, Academic, Military
Governance
Syllables
2
2
Origin
Latin "maior" meaning "greater"
Old French "maire" meaning "chief, leader"
Compare with Definitions
Major
Greater in importance.
This is a major concern for all stakeholders.
Mayor
The elected head of a city or town.
The mayor inaugurated the new community center.
Major
A primary field of study in academia.
Her major in college was biology.
Mayor
A municipal official.
The mayor's term lasts for four years in this city.
Major
Greater in size or extent.
The major portion of the budget was allocated to infrastructure.
Mayor
A leader in local governance.
As mayor, she implemented new green initiatives.
Major
A rank in the military.
Major Smith reported to the base at dawn.
Mayor
The highest-ranking official in a municipal government.
The mayor attended the international conference on urban development.
Major
Superior to another of the same kind.
The major benefits of this approach outweigh the negatives.
Mayor
(historical) nodot=1, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire.
Major
(of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Mayor
(in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) the head of a town, borough, or county council, elected by council members and generally having purely ceremonial duties.
Major
(of a term) occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
Mayor
The head of government of a city, town, borough, or municipal corporation.
Major
A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
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
Short for major suit
South was anxious to mention his four-card major and bid one spade
Mayor
A representative of local citizens in a municipality.
The mayor addressed the citizens' concerns promptly.
Major
Ellipsis of major scale.
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as the means by which a mayor is elected or otherwise mandated.
Major
(bridge) major suit.
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
(Canadian football) A touchdown, or major score.
Mayor
(historical) mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.
Major
(obsolete) mayor and {{en}}.
Mayor
A member of a city council.
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.
Mayor
A high justice, an important judge.
Major
Of full legal age; adult.
Mayor
A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead some local group.
Major
Greater by a semitone, either in interval or in difference of pitch from another tone.
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
Major is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world.
Mayor
The head of a city government
Major
Important, serious, or significant
The use of drugs is a major problem
Major
(appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the elder of two brothers.
Major
A major organization or competition
The majors have swept up the smaller independent companies in licensing deals
It's not unreasonable to believe someone can win all four majors
The oil majors had a profit bonanza
Major
A student's principal subject or course
Many students would ignore courses outside their major
Major
A major term or premise.
Major
A goal.
Major
Specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university
I was trying to decide if I should major in drama or English
Major
Greater than others in importance or rank
A major artist.
Major
Great in scope or effect
A major improvement.
Major
Great in number, size, or extent
The major portion of the population.
Major
Requiring great attention or concern; very serious
A major illness.
Major
(Law) Legally recognized as having reached the age of adulthood.
Major
Of or relating to the field of academic study in which a student specializes.
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.
Major
Based on a major scale
A major key.
Major
(Law) One recognized by the law as having reached the age of adulthood.
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
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
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
Ellipsis of major key.
Major
Ellipsis of major interval.
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
(Australian rules football) A goal.
Major
An elder brother (especially at a public school).
Major
(intransitive) major in
Major
Of greater dignity; more important.
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 major key, interval, or scale.
Major
Designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees.
Major
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
Major
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Major
One that is superior in rank, importance, or ability
An oil-producing country considered as one of the majors.
Major
(attributive):
Major
(music):
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
(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
Major
An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.
Common Curiosities
Can "major" be both a noun and an adjective?
Yes, "major" can refer to greater importance (adjective) or a rank/academic focus (noun).
Is the mayor always the top official in a city?
Typically, yes. The mayor is often the highest-ranking official in a municipality.
How long does a mayor typically serve?
It varies by location, but mayoral terms often last 2-4 years.
Can "major" refer to age?
Yes, "major" can mean having reached the age of legal adulthood.
What's the term for someone studying under a major in college?
They're referred to as a "major" in that subject, e.g., "She's a biology major."
Can someone major in two fields in college?
Yes, this is known as a "double major."
Is the role of a mayor purely ceremonial?
It varies; in some cities, the mayor has significant executive powers, while in others, the role might be more ceremonial.
Are there deputy mayors?
Many cities have deputy or vice-mayors to assist or stand in for the mayor as needed.
Can "major" also refer to music?
Yes, in music, "major" can describe a type of scale or key with a specific pattern of intervals.
Does every country use the term "mayor" for city leaders?
No, while "mayor" is common, different countries/languages have various titles for city leaders.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
