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

After awarding the voluntary furlough, management will proceed with involuntary furloughs in inverse order of system seniority up to the 1,800 number, in accordance with flight attendant contracts, the union said. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

While job descriptions recorded in campaign finance filings were limited, LinkedIn profiles provided greater detail as to the seniority of some of Futurewei’s political donors. —Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025

With attendance, transport, rent and seniority bonuses, workers can expect to earn between $227 and $238 per month. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025

Charlie Hall, fired from all of the decent bars around town and most of the less decent ones, probably didn’t seem like someone who ought to have seniority at Rapture, or be well-liked by their boss. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 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