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

The contest had exposed broader rifts within the House Democratic Caucus about not only the role of seniority in deciding top committee posts, but also the future and image of the party at large after Republicans won control of the House, Senate and White House in November. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2025

Strategic and critical thinking are valuable no matter the level of seniority, as is empathy, as marketing is all about connecting with an audience by understanding their needs and motivations. —Christine Pilkington, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Trevor Norris, deputy assistant secretary for human resources at the Treasury Department, said in court filings that reinstated workers who lack seniority would be disproportionately affected in the upcoming RIF. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

The employees involved are not part of a union and do not have the right to displace workers with less seniority. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 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