junior

1 of 2

adjective

ju·​nior ˈjün-yər 

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

: 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

junior

2 of 2

noun

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

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

Synonyms of junior

Adjective

• smaller
• less
• lesser
• lower
• subordinate
• small

Noun

• subordinate
• minion
• assistant

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

Adjective

Beyond golf, club amenities include dining venues, a fitness and wellness center, three tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a junior Olympic-size swimming pool with cabanas and a hot tub. — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Wadkins went to nationals her junior year for a documentary about Kitty Cone and the 504 sit-in after placing second at the state-level National History Day competition. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Noun

Taxe, who was a Glenbrook North junior when the movie was filmed in 1985, was given the opportunity to apply to be an extra along with her sister, Michelle Rice. — Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Miami announced Monday that the junior forward will miss the 2026-27 season with an ACL tear. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

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)

Phrases Containing junior

• junior college
• junior high school
• junior miss
• junior school
• junior varsity
• lieutenant junior grade

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 noun

1

: 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