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

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

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Noun

• subordinate
• assistant
• minion

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

Now, the Scorpions get to play host with the state’s leading rusher, junior Ethan Mangrum (1,861 yards rushing), in their backfield for the do-or-die affair. —Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025

Anderson’s go-to option is junior wide receiver Chris Durr (37 catches, 398 yards, 4 TDs), who has more than twice as many receptions as anyone else on the team. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

The high school junior came to this Head Start program at the Webster Pre School as a volunteers with the LiTEArary Society , an international group started in West Virginia that gets new picture books to preschool children to develop a love of reading. —Chris Schulz, NPR, 28 Oct. 2025

Redshirt junior Maddux Madsen has one year of eligibility left, and three other underclassmen quarterbacks, including redshirt sophomore backup Max Cutforth, are on the roster. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025

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