Mayor and Major Are the Same Word
A mayor heads a town or city council. The title means greater, and it is the same Latin word as the military rank major.
A mayor is the elected head of a town or city. The title simply means greater: Latin *maior* gave both *mayor*, through French, and *major*, taken directly from Latin. A mayor is the greater person of the town, and a major the greater officer of a regiment. The same root gives *majority*, *majesty* and the month of *May* is unrelated despite the resemblance.
- A city's head. *The mayor of London.*
- Major — the same word. *A major.*
- Mayoress — a mayor's wife, or a female mayor. *The mayoress.*
- Mayoral — of a mayor. *Mayoral elections.*
- Latin — *maior*, greater. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mayor | The mayor. |
| Plural | mayors | Two mayors. |
| Adjective | mayoral | Mayoral duties. |
| Noun | mayoralty | His mayoralty. |
| Latin | maior | Greater. |
- The mayor opened the new library.Civic.
- Mayor and major are the same word.Etymology.
- Mayoral elections are held in May.Politics.
The maior family
- Mayor — through French, the head of a town
- Major — direct from Latin, greater in size or rank
- Majority — the greater part
- Majesty — greatness, as a royal title
- Mayor and major are one word borrowed twice
Old French *maire*, from Latin *maior*, greater, the comparative of *magnus*, great.
Are mayor and major related?
Yes. Both come from Latin maior, greater. Mayor arrived through French, major directly from Latin.
What is a mayoress?
Traditionally the wife of a mayor, though it is now also used for a female mayor in some places.