junior

¹ju·nior

adjective \ˈjün-yər\

Definition of JUNIOR

1

a : less advanced in age : younger —used chiefly to distinguish a son with the same given name as his father

b (1) : youthful (2) : designed for young people and especially adolescents

c : of more recent date and therefore inferior or subordinate <a junior lien>

2

a : lower in standing or rank <junior partners>

b : duplicating or suggesting on a smaller scale something typically large or powerful <a junior gale>

3

: of or relating to juniors or the class of juniors at an educational institution <the junior prom>

Examples of JUNIOR

1. She is a junior partner in the law firm.
2. <junior advisers to the governor>

Origin of JUNIOR

Middle English, from Latin, comparative of juvenis young — more at young

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to JUNIOR

Synonyms

inferior, lesser, less, lower, minor, smaller, subordinate

Antonyms

greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate

Related Words

little, mean, small; minute, petty; jerkwater, one-horse, second-class, second-rate, two-bit; associate, auxiliary, secondary, subsidiary

Near Antonyms

choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

²junior

noun

Definition of JUNIOR

1

a (1) : a person who is younger than another <a man six years my junior> (2) : a male child : son (3) : a young person

b : a clothing size for women and girls with slight figures

2

a : a person holding a lower position in a hierarchy of ranks

b : a student in the next-to-the-last year before graduating from an educational institution

3

capitalized : a member of a program of the Girl Scouts for girls in the third through sixth grades in school

Examples of JUNIOR

1. They are my juniors in rank.
2. She's a junior at the state college.

Origin of JUNIOR

Latin, noun & adjective

First Known Use: 1526

Related to JUNIOR

Synonyms

inferior, underling, subordinate

Antonyms

senior, superior

Related Words

attendant, follower, retainer; domestic, menial, steward; flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), henchman, lackey, minion; adjutant, aid, aide, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, second, second fiddle; helpmate, helpmeet, mate, sidekick

Near Antonyms

boss, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, kingpin, leader, master, taskmaster