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

In no country did the share of job-secure workers breach 38%, and even though job security rose slightly with seniority, still only 35% of C-suite executives felt their job was safe. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Later, the antique models — the Commanders with more seniority and more gold cords hanging from their epaulettes — will come to select their second or third wives. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026

Leavitt, the Smith College professor, said seniority typically plays the most important role in who chairs Senate committees. —Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

But beyond the partisan stakes, the shift could come at a cost to Virginia itself — the loss of lawmakers with seniority and key committee posts who help steer federal funding and advantageous policy to the state. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026

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