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.
3
a
: 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
Current Biography1
: 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
: 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
Synonyms
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 WebHannah Dreyfus, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
April’s heavy rains Central Indiana saw minor flooding across most of its creeks and rivers.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The Kings played Saturday without forward Anze Kopitar, who also skipped the morning skate with what the team called a minor injury.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Government lawyers argue that the violent disruption of the peaceful transfer of power after a presidential election, including attacks on police officers, is no minor interference.
—Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
Two individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries and two others were transported to the hospitalfor minor injuries as well.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Conducting a minor business meeting while on vacation doesn’t instantly transform what is really a vacation into a business trip, according to the IRS.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The broader issue of bans on gender-affirming care for minors could eventually be before the U.S. Supreme Court again.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The Kentucky and Tennessee laws banning gender-affirming care for minors are currently in effect.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
The bill also restricts surgeries, which physicians say are rare for minors and only done in severe cases.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Twenty-two states, including Missouri, ban gender-affirming care for minors.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
He would also be barred from contacting any of the victims, Holgate or any minors.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
What ensues is a chase through Central Park that landed Donnelly the now-infamous shot of Andrew and Epstein walking together after Epstein’s release from jail in 2009 for soliciting prostitution from minors.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why a new legal challenge to the state’s law banning transgender medical procedures for minors is wrong.
—Dave Yost, National Review, 4 Apr. 2024
John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, Carly chose to minor in event planning.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2022
At this institution, everyone is required to minor in biblical studies.
—Leslie Ambriz, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022
Tens of thousands of times a year, hospitals charge enormously expensive trauma alert fees for injuries so minor the patient is never admitted.
—Jay Hancock, CNN, 16 July 2021
In a news release, the school said students in the fall will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in public health and may also minor in public health.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2021
The weather map on Monday shows somewhat active weather across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast, where areas of rain will mix will minor snow accumulations.
—Todd Nelson, Star Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021
Adjective
Her brother, who is still a minor, remains in his father's custody.
—Hannah Dreyfus, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
April’s heavy rains Central Indiana saw minor flooding across most of its creeks and rivers.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The Kings played Saturday without forward Anze Kopitar, who also skipped the morning skate with what the team called a minor injury.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Government lawyers argue that the violent disruption of the peaceful transfer of power after a presidential election, including attacks on police officers, is no minor interference.
—Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
Two individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries and two others were transported to the hospitalfor minor injuries as well.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Conducting a minor business meeting while on vacation doesn’t instantly transform what is really a vacation into a business trip, according to the IRS.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
An Ohio judge temporarily blocked a law Tuesday that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors, a week before it was set to take effect — the latest juncture in the state’s months-long battle over the issue.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The broader issue of bans on gender-affirming care for minors could eventually be before the U.S. Supreme Court again.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The Kentucky and Tennessee laws banning gender-affirming care for minors are currently in effect.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
The bill also restricts surgeries, which physicians say are rare for minors and only done in severe cases.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Twenty-two states, including Missouri, ban gender-affirming care for minors.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
He would also be barred from contacting any of the victims, Holgate or any minors.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
What ensues is a chase through Central Park that landed Donnelly the now-infamous shot of Andrew and Epstein walking together after Epstein’s release from jail in 2009 for soliciting prostitution from minors.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why a new legal challenge to the state’s law banning transgender medical procedures for minors is wrong.
—Dave Yost, National Review, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
Emma, one of about 20 Oxford survivors at the university, decided to minor in women’s studies, hoping to one day get a doctorate, maybe become a professor and teach students like her.
—John Woodrow Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, Carly chose to minor in event planning.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2022
At this institution, everyone is required to minor in biblical studies.
—Leslie Ambriz, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022
Tens of thousands of times a year, hospitals charge enormously expensive trauma alert fees for injuries so minor the patient is never admitted.
—Jay Hancock, CNN, 16 July 2021
In a news release, the school said students in the fall will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in public health and may also minor in public health.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2021
The weather map on Monday shows somewhat active weather across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast, where areas of rain will mix will minor snow accumulations.
—Todd Nelson, Star Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'minor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to minor
Dictionary Entries Near minor
Cite this Entry
“Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minor
1 of 2 adjective
mi·nor
ˈmī-nər 
1
: less in size, importance, or value
a minor poet
a minor injury
2
: not having reached the age to have full civil rights
3
a
: relating to or being a musical scale in which the third tone is lowered a half step
b
: based on a minor scale
minor key
minor
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has not reached the age to have full civil rights
Medical Definition
minor
2 of 2 noun
: a person of either sex under the age of legal qualification for adult rights and responsibilities that has traditionally been 21 in the United States but is now 18 in many states or sometimes less under certain circumstances (as marriage or pregnancy)
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