senior

noun se·nior \ ˈsē-nyər \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of senior

1 : a person older than another

five years my senior

2 a : a person with higher standing or rank

b : a senior fellow of a college at an English university

c : a student in the year preceding graduation from a school of secondary or higher level

3 capitalized : a member of a program of the Girl Scouts for girls in the 9th through 12th grades in school

4 : senior citizen

See senior defined for English-language learners

See senior defined for kids

Examples of senior in a Sentence

As his senior, she commanded quite a bit of respect.
She was his senior in rank.
high school juniors and seniors

Recent Examples of senior from the Web

SUBSCRIBE TODAY Advocates differ on the wisdom of online renewals for seniors.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Older drivers are linked to fatal crashes. Is 10 years too long between DMV eye exams? | Charlotte Observer," 16 May 2018
Performances are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $50, $45 for seniors, $22 for students and $17 for children.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "'A Night With Janis Joplin' At Ivoryton Playhouse," 16 May 2018
Mainieri was strategic with each of his moments for the seniors.

— brody miller, NOLA.com, "LSU seniors say goodbye to The Box: 'This is my haven'," 15 May 2018
The boosters sponsor annual events - such as ice cream socials and high school sports banquets - and sponsor scholarships for seniors.

— melanie savage, Courant Community, "RHAM Basketball Champs Visit LOB," 14 May 2018
Suydam said the food bank is not just fending off hunger for seniors, but providing them with healthy choices.

— ben brazil, latimes.com, "Park-It Market will provide free food to low-income seniors throughout Orange County," 10 May 2018
General admission is $25 for adults; $17 for seniors; $12 for students; and free for members, patrons, and children under 12.

— cara kelly, USA TODAY, "10 things to see at the Met’s 'Heavenly Bodies' exhibit, and what to know before you go," 9 May 2018
Schweinfurth, an accomplished pianist, placed 10th in the nation's oldest and most prestigious science contest for high school seniors in March.

— betsy hammond, OregonLive.com, "Oregon's 3 new Presidential Scholars hail from Portland, Medford," 9 May 2018
YMCA Fitness Program EnhanceFitness is an exercise program specifically designed for seniors.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale and Oakland Park area events, May 9-19," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'senior.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of senior

Middle English, from Latin, from senior, adjective

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

senior Synonyms

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

senior

adjective

Definition of senior

1 : of prior birth, establishment, or enrollment —often used to distinguish a father with the same given name as his son

2 : higher ranking : superior

senior officers

3 : of, relating to, or intended for seniors

a senior center

4 : having a claim on corporate assets and income prior to other securities

See senior defined for English-language learners

Examples of senior in a Sentence

the senior vice president of marketing
She is a senior aide to the president.
a senior editor for the magazine
He recently became a senior partner in the accounting firm.
the men's senior baseball league

Recent Examples of senior from the Web

At the Zambian Carnivore Programme, Thandiwe Mweetwa works as a senior ecologist and education manager.

— National Geographic, "These Artists Are Making Jewelry to Help Protect Their Country's Wildlife," 17 May 2018
Maffet was among three employees fired the same day, including senior athletic director of development Mark Jurich and associate athletic director of marketing Julianne Waldron.

— chris white, The Courier-Journal, "U of L denies discrimination claims by employee who blew whistle on coaches," 15 May 2018
In place of a single point person in charge of guiding and shaping US cyber policy, the task will now fall instead to two National Security Council senior directors.

— brian barrett, WIRED, "White House Cuts Critical Cybersecurity Role as Threats Loom," 15 May 2018
But aside from MacDonald’s enablers, the episode demonstrated the long shadow one senior official can cast.

— adam aton, Scientific American, "Interior’s Handling of Science Gives Climate Advocates a Sense of Déjà Vu," 15 May 2018
Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone on May 8, and then senior Chinese officials led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen met at the Treasury Department on Friday, where the ZTE issue was again raised.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Trump's ZTE tweet sows confusion before trade talks with China," 15 May 2018
Sanchez delivered the eulogy and sang at his funeral before starting her senior year in soccer, a sport her father coached.

— mark stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Multi-sports stars Max Alba, Lexi Romero named Journal Sentinel high school athletes of the year," 14 May 2018
Leah Napoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas.

— leah napoliello, Houston Chronicle, "BBB on Homes: It’s best to hire a Realtor when buying, selling home," 13 May 2018
Police said the attacker was dead, but a senior U.S. intelligence officer briefed on the situation said police fatally shot the suspect, who appeared to indiscriminately stab people near the city's Opera.

— NBC News, "Paris stabbings that killed one investigated as terror attack; suspect dead," 12 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of senior

Middle English, from Latin, older, elder, comparative of sen-, senex old; akin to Goth sineigs old, Greek henos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

senior Synonyms

Synonyms

aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, senescent;

Antonyms

young, youthful;

Near Antonyms

ageless;

youngish;

adolescent, immature, juvenile, preteen, puerile;

minor, underage;

callow, green, inexperienced, raw;

babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish;

oldish;

adult, grown-up, mature, middle-aged;

pensioned, retired, superannuated;

venerable;

decrepit, doddering, senile, tottery;

overage (also overaged);

Phrases

long in the tooth, of a certain age;

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

SENIOR Defined for English Language Learners

senior

noun

Definition of senior for English Language Learners

: a person who is older than another person
: a person who is of a higher rank than another person
: a student in the final year of high school or college

senior

adjective

Definition of senior for English Language Learners

: older in age
: higher in standing or rank than another person in the same position
: of, relating to, or designed for older people

SENIOR Defined for Kids

senior

noun se·nior \ ˈsēn-yər \

Definition of senior for Students

1 : a person older or higher in rank than someone else

2 : a student in the final year of high school or college

3 : an elderly person

senior

adjective

Definition of senior for Students

1 : being older

Hint: This sense is often used to distinguish a father from a son with the same name.

John Doe, Senior

2 : higher in rank or office

Who is the senior partner of the law firm?

3 : relating to students in the final year of high school or college

Law Dictionary

senior

adjective se·nior \ ˈsē-nyər \

legal Definition of senior

: having higher rank or priority

a senior lienholder

; specifically : having a claim on corporate assets and income prior to other securities

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senior

Definition of senior

Examples of senior in a Sentence

Recent Examples of senior from the Web

Origin and Etymology of senior

senior Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Education Terms

senior

Definition of senior

Examples of senior in a Sentence

Recent Examples of senior from the Web

Origin and Etymology of senior

senior Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Other Education Terms

SENIOR Defined for English Language Learners

senior

Definition of senior for English Language Learners

senior

Definition of senior for English Language Learners

SENIOR Defined for Kids

senior

Definition of senior for Students

senior

Definition of senior for Students

Law Dictionary

senior

legal Definition of senior

Learn More about senior

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