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

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

But her remarks cast doubt on whether House Democrats might buck their long adherence to the seniority system, even as many members of their party clamor for generational change. —Michael Gold, New York Times, 6 May 2025

The election is shaping up to be a battle between the party's old guard and a crop of younger lawmakers looking to bypass the seniority system to put up a more vigorous opposition to the Trump administration. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 6 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