TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
MAJOR [6 records]
Record 1 - external organization data 2022-08-31
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Compartment - National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 1, English, major
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Tiroir – Classification nationale des professions (CNP)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- major
1, record 1, French, major
correct, masculine and feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2022-02-15
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Military Organization
- Land Forces
- Air Forces
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 2, English, major
correct, see observation, noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
- Maj 2, record 2, English, Maj
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[The] designation of rank used by an officer who wears an army or air force uniform and holds the rank of major. 3, record 2, English, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Each element of a military rank is capitalized when used to address a person directly or to refer to a particular person. Each element of a rank abbreviation always takes an initial capital letter. Ranks used without a name should be written out in full. 4, record 2, English, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major; Maj: designations officially approved by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 4, record 2, English, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major; Maj: designations to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 5, record 2, English, - major
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Organisation militaire
- Forces terrestres
- Forces aériennes
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- major
1, record 2, French, major
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
- maj 2, record 2, French, maj
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- majore 3, record 2, French, majore
correct, see observation, feminine noun
- maj 4, record 2, French, maj
correct, see observation, feminine noun
- maj 4, record 2, French, maj
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[Désignation] de grade employée par un officier qui porte l'uniforme de l'armée ou de l'aviation et qui détient le grade de major. 5, record 2, French, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les grades militaires s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'ils sont employés pour s'adresser directement à une personne, qu'ils soient ou non accompagnés du nom de la personne. Les abréviations des grades s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'elles accompagnent le nom d'une personne. Les grades non accompagnés d'un nom devraient s'écrire au long. 6, record 2, French, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major; maj : désignations uniformisées par le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes. 6, record 2, French, - major
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major; majore; maj : désignations d'usage obligatoire au ministère de la Défense nationale et dans les Forces canadiennes. 7, record 2, French, - major
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Organización militar
- Ejército de tierra
- Fuerzas aéreas
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- mayor
1, record 2, Spanish, mayor
correct, masculine and feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Los cargos se escriben con minúscula cuando aparecen acompañados del nombre propio de la persona al que corresponden o cuando están usados en sentido genérico. Pueden aparecer en determinados casos escritos con mayúscula, por ejemplo, cuando se usan referidos a una persona concreta sin mención expresa del nombre propio, o cuando se usan en el encabezamiento de las cartas dirigidas a las personas que los ostentan. 1, record 2, Spanish, - mayor
Record 3 - internal organization data 2017-09-07
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Military Ranks
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 3, English, major
correct, see observation, noun, officially approved
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
- Maj 2, record 3, English, Maj
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The rank of an officer below that of lieutenant-colonel and above that of captain. 3, record 3, English, - major
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Each element of a military rank is capitalized when used to address a person directly or to refer to a particular person. Each element of a rank abbreviation always takes an initial capital letter. Ranks used without a name should be written out in full. 4, record 3, English, - major
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major; Maj: designations officially approved by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 4, record 3, English, - major
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Grades militaires
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- major
1, record 3, French, major
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
- maj 2, record 3, French, maj
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Grade d'un officier inférieur au grade de lieutenant-colonel et supérieur à celui de capitaine. 3, record 3, French, - major
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les grades militaires s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'ils sont employés pour s'adresser directement à une personne, qu'ils soient ou non accompagnés du nom de la personne. Les abréviations des grades s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'elles accompagnent le nom d'une personne. Les grades non accompagnés d'un nom devraient s'écrire au long. 4, record 3, French, - major
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Grade faisant à la fois partie de la liste des grades actuels en usage depuis l'unification des Forces canadiennes en 1968 et de la liste des anciens grades de l'Armée de terre. 5, record 3, French, - major
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major; maj : désignations uniformisées par le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes. 4, record 3, French, - major
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Grados militares
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- mayor
1, record 3, Spanish, mayor
correct, masculine and feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Los cargos se escriben con minúscula cuando aparecen acompañados del nombre propio de la persona al que corresponden o cuando están usados en sentido genérico. Pueden aparecer en determinados casos escritos con mayúscula, por ejemplo, cuando se usan referidos a una persona concreta sin mención expresa del nombre propio, o cuando se usan en el encabezamiento de las cartas dirigidas a las personas que los ostentan. 1, record 3, Spanish, - mayor
Record 4 - internal organization data 2011-10-04
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- School and School-Related Administration
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 4, English, major
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- subject major 2, record 4, English, subject%20major
correct
- major subject 3, record 4, English, major%20subject
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A principal subject of study in one department or field of learning, in which a student is required or elects to take a specified number of courses and credit hours as a part of the requirement for obtaining a diploma or degree. 2, record 4, English, - major
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Administration scolaire et parascolaire
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- majeure
1, record 4, French, majeure
correct, see observation, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- majeur 2, record 4, French, majeur
correct, masculine noun
- matière principale 3, record 4, French, mati%C3%A8re%20principale
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Champs d'études principal d'un programme d'études. 4, record 4, French, - majeure
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
majeure : Terme et définition recommandés par l'Office de la langue française. 5, record 4, French, - majeure
Record 4, Key term(s)
- sujet majeur
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2007-06-14
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- General Vocabulary
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 5, English, major
correct, see observation, adjective
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
- maj 1, record 5, English, maj
correct, see observation, adjective
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The term "major" is used as an adjective here; it does not refer to the military rank. 2, record 5, English, - major
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major; maj: term and abbreviation to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 3, record 5, English, - major
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Vocabulaire général
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- majeur
1, record 5, French, majeur
correct, see observation, adjective
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
- maj 1, record 5, French, maj
correct, see observation, adjective
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Attention, il ne s'agit pas du grade militaire, mais bien de l'adjectif «majeur». 2, record 5, French, - majeur
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 OBS
majeur; maj : terme et abréviation d'usage obligatoire au ministère de la Défense nationale et dans les Forces canadiennes. 3, record 5, French, - majeur
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Vocabulario general
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- mayor
1, record 5, Spanish, mayor
correct, adjective
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 1999-04-14
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- School and School-Related Administration
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- major
1, record 6, English, major
correct, verb
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Administration scolaire et parascolaire
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- se spécialiser
1, record 6, French, se%20sp%C3%A9cialiser
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Se spécialiser dans une matière. 2, record 6, French, - se%20sp%C3%A9cialiser
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 2 OBS
to major in chemistry = se spécialiser en chimie. 1, record 6, French, - se%20sp%C3%A9cialiser
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: