Phrase guide

major key

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A musical key based upon a major scale.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a key whose harmony is based on the major scale

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: major mode

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: key, tonality

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 大調 /大调 (dàdiào) — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Finnish: duuri — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • French: mode majeur — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • French: tonalité majeure — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • German: Durtonart — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • German: Dur — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Hungarian: dúr hangnem — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Irish: mórghléas — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Japanese: 長調 (chōchō) — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Korean: 장조 (jangjo) — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Māori: paeoro matua — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Russian: мажо́рная тона́льность (mažórnaja tonálʹnostʹ) — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Russian: мажо́р (mažór) — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Swedish: dur — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Swedish: durtonart — music: a musical key based upon a major scale
  • Welsh: cywair llon — music: a musical key based upon a major scale