“Major” and “mayor” are words easily confused by people who do not know the difference between them. However, once you understand the subtle differences between these two words, you will never make that mistake again. In this article, we will discuss these words’ main differences and uses.
The main difference between these words is that major refers to a rank or something important. In contrast, “mayor” usually refers to an elected official who leads a city council or governing body. The “major” can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb, while the “mayor” can only be used as a noun.
The easiest way to remember the difference between these two words is that major refers to ranks or importance, while the mayor is used when discussing someone who leads a city or town. We will examine these two words more in this article.
What Do The Words “Major” and “Mayor” Mean?
A “major” is a commissioned officer in the army. They are responsible for leading and commanding a unit of soldiers. They are typically the third highest-ranking officer in that unit.
A “major” in the military is usually in charge of an entire unit or all operations within a particular department. They will report to a higher-ranking officer and may be delegated authority in certain situations. They are often responsible for enforcing rules and regulations, which means they can punish soldiers who break them.
Also,” major” is an adjective used to refer to something of great importance or significance. It can also mean “larger in size” or “senior,” for instance, a major league baseball team.
A “major” can also mean a broad subject area you choose to focus on for the rest of your undergraduate education. It is optional to declare a “major” in your second year of college, but you must know what you are interested in before declaring one.
Majoring in a subject area helps you develop a coherent body of knowledge that can be applied to real-life situations. Declaring a “major” can also help you narrow down future career choices.
In addition, each “major” has its requirements, but they all share some commonalities. First, you will have to declare your “major” to choose the available “majors” you want to focus on.
Second, you will have to meet the requirements for that “major.” These vary depending on the college and the specific program you are doing. However, they usually include taking a certain number of classes related to your “major,” completing an internship or research project, and writing a thesis or dissertation on some aspect of your field.
Third, you will have to graduate from college (or earn whatever equivalent degree your school offers). Choosing your “major” can be based on your interests, skills, abilities, or what you think will help you succeed. The word comes from the Latin māior, which means “great or large.”
The synonyms for “major” include above ultra, primary, elder, superior, main, supreme, sizable, higher, better, large, extensive, chief, hefty, big, uppermost, extreme, considerable, exceeding, upper, oversized, greater, most, leading, larger-scale and dominant, above, dominant, considerable, senior, etc.
The other word, “mayor” is the chief executive officer of a municipal government. As a government official, a mayor’s primary role is to ensure that the community’s needs are met by implementing policies and services that meet those needs.
The “mayor” is also the city’s chief administrative officer, whom the people elect. The “mayor” oversees all city departments, including public safety, sanitation, and parks and recreation.
Mayors also set the budget for their municipality each year. This means they decide how much money will be spent on public services like fire protection or street repair. “Mayors” can also raise taxes to help pay for these services.
Furthermore, mayors typically have executive power, leading the government and making executive decisions. They also manage municipal departments, such as the police and fire departments. They also represent the city in interactions with state or federal governments, like applying for grants or lobbying for new laws.
The “mayor” of a city is elected to a four-year term. A “mayor” may not serve more than two consecutive terms but may serve nonconsecutively if they have not previously served two consecutive terms.
In addition, the male “mayor” is addressed as Mr. mayor, while the female “mayor” is addressed as Madam or Lady mayor. Also, the wife of a mayor is called the Lady Mayoress, while the husband of a Lady Mayor is called the Mayor’s Consort.
The word “mayor” comes from the French word “Maire,” which means “head of the city.” The synonyms are CEO, head honcho, superintendent, premier, prez, producer, front officer, director, leader, judge, ambassador, commander, minister, overseer, bureaucrat, authority, captain, consul, dean, custodian, head person, inspector, producer, person upstairs, exec, president, executive, controller, front office, etc.
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How To Properly Use The Words “Major” And “Mayor” In A Sentence
“Major” and “Mayor” describe someone in authority who has a high standing and can make crucial decisions. However, they cannot be used similarly in a sentence, even though both are nouns.
The word “major” is used in a sentence to describe a person who has achieved a high rank in the military. Also, a “major” can be used as an adjective to describe something or someone as large or important.
“Major” has a variety of meanings. Its usage depends on the context of what you are writing about.
The word “mayor” is used as a noun in sentences to describe an elected official with jurisdiction over a city or municipality.
Also, when used as an adjective, major means “of primary importance.” For example, if you said, “I have a major test tomorrow,” this would be correct because it means you have an important one tomorrow.
However, if you said, “I have a mayor test tomorrow,” this would not be correct because it means that your test is about mayors instead of being significant, as the first example sentence implied!
Bulleted List Of Examples Of The Words “Major” And “Mayor” Used In Sentences
Below are some examples of how the words “major” and “mayor” are used in sentences:
- The major reason why I am not going to the party is that I have to study for a big test tomorrow.
- Our team’s major player was injured in the game last night, so we are down a man.
- My college offers many different majors, including Spanish and psychology.
- Major General Allinson is responsible for all the men in his unit, and he needs to keep them happy so they can do their jobs well.
- Tommy was promoted to major after serving ten years as a captain in his company’s army division.
- Most importantly, although he performs crucial government functions, the mayor receives no remuneration from the state.
- My Higher levels of clientelism and patronage were found in areas where the mayor’s office was involved in beneficiary registration and selection.
- The mayor wants to change how the city runs its recycling program
- She was born in a small town but became a famous mayor when she moved to New York City.
- Mayors are often called upon to interview local newspapers or television stations to explain why they made certain decisions about current events in their communities.
Final Thoughts
Many think “major” and “mayor” can be used interchangeably. However, this is not true at all. The two words have different meanings and should not be used similarly, as many people do. So, always ensure you use the appropriate word when writing.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.