1
2
: of or relating to juniors or the class of juniors at an educational institution
the junior prom
3
a
: lower in standing or rank
junior partners
b
: duplicating or suggesting on a smaller scale something typically large or powerful
a junior gale
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 student in the next-to-the-last year before graduating from an educational institution
b
: a person holding a lower position in a hierarchy of ranks
3
capitalized
: a member of a program of the Girl Scouts for girls in the third through sixth grades in school
Synonyms
Examples of junior in a Sentence
Adjective
She is a junior partner in the law firm.
junior advisers to the governor
Noun
They are my juniors in rank.
She's a junior at the state college.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nathan Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
That changed two weeks ago when a knee injury suffered by Browning made junior transfer Gabriel Plascencia the next leg up.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In Pennsylvania, Amber was finishing her junior year at a liberal arts college when covid forced everyone to go home.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
Her junior year, Emma dropped out of school to pursue YouTube full-time and soon moved to Los Angeles, both decisions that her parents supported.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023
For the improvement of their junior colleagues, the elders at National Review would from time to time issue lists of proscribed activities.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 16 Nov. 2023
Amihai Eliyahu, a far-right politician from Israel’s Jewish Power party and a junior minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, gave his strategy for the ongoing Gaza war when interviewed on local radio earlier this week.
—Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2023
Rowan sent the university the money a few months after graduation, using his first bonus from his job as a junior investment banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert.
—Rachel Louise Ensign, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023
For the Toreros, junior guard Wayne McKinney III (Coronado HS) led the way with 21 points along with five rebounds and three assists, Deuce Turner added 12 points and Patton Jr. scored 11 points.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2023
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
Cue the hilarious fish-out-of-water sequences in which Flynt, who’s still in excellent physical condition, tries out for a skeptical coach (Rob Corddry, nicely underplaying) who finally agrees to give him a shot, and meets his disbelieving teammates, all of whom are nearly 40 years his junior.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
Sanders, a junior and preseason All-American after rushing for 1,433 yards in 2022, has been limited to six games due to a knee injury and has 62 carries for 209 yards.
—Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 20 Nov. 2023
The couple, who were together 11 years, announced their separation in June 2022, amid rumors that the soccer player had cheated on Shakira with a woman more than 20 years her junior.
—Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Ramirez, a junior, completed 6 of 6 passes on the drive, including three completions to Nehemiah Brunson Jr. of 17, 19 and 11 yards before Ramirez scored on a 1-yard sneak for a 14-7 Warriors lead.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023
The lawsuit was filed by three NYU juniors in Manhattan federal court Tuesday.
—Jolie Lash, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Grace Chen, who is currently a junior at Hillsdale College, alleged that after the assault the school refused to protect her from the assailant and failed to explain its findings.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023
Cassandra Dumay is a junior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in Spanish and political science.
—Talia Buford, ProPublica, 7 Nov. 2023
See More
Adjective
Though Joséphine did console herself with a new lover in her husband’s absence, Napoleon wasn’t faithful either, beginning a relationship with the wife of a junior army officer in 1798.
—Nathan Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
That changed two weeks ago when a knee injury suffered by Browning made junior transfer Gabriel Plascencia the next leg up.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In Pennsylvania, Amber was finishing her junior year at a liberal arts college when covid forced everyone to go home.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
Her junior year, Emma dropped out of school to pursue YouTube full-time and soon moved to Los Angeles, both decisions that her parents supported.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023
For the improvement of their junior colleagues, the elders at National Review would from time to time issue lists of proscribed activities.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 16 Nov. 2023
Amihai Eliyahu, a far-right politician from Israel’s Jewish Power party and a junior minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, gave his strategy for the ongoing Gaza war when interviewed on local radio earlier this week.
—Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2023
Rowan sent the university the money a few months after graduation, using his first bonus from his job as a junior investment banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert.
—Rachel Louise Ensign, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023
For the Toreros, junior guard Wayne McKinney III (Coronado HS) led the way with 21 points along with five rebounds and three assists, Deuce Turner added 12 points and Patton Jr. scored 11 points.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2023
Noun
Leave 6-foot-5 junior Austin Maziasz of Westlake High open at your own peril.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
Cue the hilarious fish-out-of-water sequences in which Flynt, who’s still in excellent physical condition, tries out for a skeptical coach (Rob Corddry, nicely underplaying) who finally agrees to give him a shot, and meets his disbelieving teammates, all of whom are nearly 40 years his junior.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
Sanders, a junior and preseason All-American after rushing for 1,433 yards in 2022, has been limited to six games due to a knee injury and has 62 carries for 209 yards.
—Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 20 Nov. 2023
The couple, who were together 11 years, announced their separation in June 2022, amid rumors that the soccer player had cheated on Shakira with a woman more than 20 years her junior.
—Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Ramirez, a junior, completed 6 of 6 passes on the drive, including three completions to Nehemiah Brunson Jr. of 17, 19 and 11 yards before Ramirez scored on a 1-yard sneak for a 14-7 Warriors lead.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023
The lawsuit was filed by three NYU juniors in Manhattan federal court Tuesday.
—Jolie Lash, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Grace Chen, who is currently a junior at Hillsdale College, alleged that after the assault the school refused to protect her from the assailant and failed to explain its findings.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023
Cassandra Dumay is a junior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in Spanish and political science.
—Talia Buford, ProPublica, 7 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'junior.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Latin, comparative of juvenis young — more at young
Noun
Latin, noun & adjective
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Time Traveler
The first known use of junior was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing junior
Articles Related to junior
Dictionary Entries Near junior
Cite this Entry
“Junior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junior. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
junior
1 of 2 adjective
ju·nior
ˈjün-yər 
1
a
: being the younger one
—used chiefly to distinguish a son with the same given name as his father
b
: designed for young teenagers
2
: lower in standing or rank
junior partner
3
: of or relating to juniors in a school
junior
2 of 2 noun1
: a person who is younger or of lower rank than another
2
: a student in the next-to-last year in a high school, college, or university
Legal Definition
junior
adjective
ju·nior
ˈjü-nyər
: of lower standing or rank
a junior lienholder
More from Merriam-Webster on junior
Nglish: Translation of junior for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of junior for Arabic Speakers
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