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

But in the Senate, a governing body with a clubby atmosphere sometimes called the world’s most exclusive retirement home, seniority has long ruled. —Kayla Guo, New York Times, 17 May 2024

Gig, temporary, and part-time workers should receive most of the same legal protections that full-time employees do, and they should be allowed to accumulate seniority, savings, and benefits just as many full-time workers do. —Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021

Around 19% of people chalk up their a dearth of travel opportunities to a lack of seniority, and another 18% boil it down to their age, according to the report. —Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 2 July 2024

The roles spanned all levels of seniority, from entry level openings to executive-tier jobs. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 27 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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