seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ə-tē 

-ˈyär-

1

: the quality or state of being senior : priority

2

: a privileged status attained by length of continuous service (as in a company)

Examples of seniority in a Sentence

Promotions are based on merit and seniority.

a teacher with less seniority

He has worked here longer than I have, so he has seniority over me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Airline employees and often their friends and family can fly standby at no cost based on seniority and availability. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 11 June 2025

Despite concerns about his health, seniority carried the day. —Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 29 May 2025

Blind spots widen with seniority, not because leaders stop caring—but because fewer people speak up. —Katharina Schmidt, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

The race was seen as a struggle over the future of the seniority system that has long shaped how Democrats pick committee leaders. —Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 29 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seniority

• authority
• majority
• minority
• priority
• sonority
• sorority
• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority

Kids Definition

seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ət-ē 

-ˈyär-

1

: the quality or state of being senior

2

: a privileged position arrived at by length of service

Legal Definition

seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being senior

2

: the senior status attained by length of continuous service (as in a company)

also : the length of such continuous service