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)

Example Sentences

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

The fact that Oregon’s powerful teachers union now backs the concept of a pay differential based on assignment rather than seniority shows how acute the need for special education educators has become. —oregonlive, 3 Mar. 2023

Here’s how your state handles teacher layoffs Thirteen states make seniority the only factor determining which teachers are on the chopping block. —Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023

There are two tracks: Those who want eventually to run for higher office and those playing the long game of seniority and leadership roles. —James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Feb. 2023

Should seniority determine who gets called back after a layoff? —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2023

Shelby earned a reputation for putting his seniority and influence to work, steering federal dollars and projects to support the military, industry, education, and jobs in Alabama. —Mike Cason | [e-mail], al, 26 Dec. 2022

Neither their seniority nor the size of their firm are predictive of their performance. —Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2022

In 1986, the court ruled that a local school board in Michigan could not lay off a white teacher with more seniority over a Black teacher with less. —Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023

In October 2022, according to court documents, an arbitrator reinstated Franklin to his position, with full seniority. —Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 20 Jan. 2023

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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