senior

American  

[seen-yer] / ˈsin yər /

adjective

1. older or elder (designating the older of two men bearing the same name, as a father whose son is named after him, often written as Sr. or sr. following the name).

   I'd like to speak with the senior Mr. Hansen, please.

   I'm privileged to introduce Mr. Edward Andrew Hansen, Sr.

2. of earlier appointment or admission, as to an office, status, or rank.

   a senior partner.

3. of higher or the highest rank or standing.

4. (in American schools, colleges, and universities) of or relating to students in their final year or to their class.

5. (in certain American colleges and universities) of or relating to the final two years of education, during which a student specializes in a certain field of study.

6. of, for, or pertaining to a senior citizen or senior citizens as a group.

   senior discounts on local bus fares.

7. of earlier date; prior to.

   His appointment is senior to mine by a year.

8. Finance.  having a claim on payments, assets, dividends, or the like prior to other creditors, mortgages, stockholders, etc.

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noun

1. a person who is older than another.

2. a person of higher rank or standing than another, especially by virtue of longer service.

3. (in the U.S.) a student in the final year at a high school, preparatory school, college, or university.

4. a fellow holding senior rank in a college at an English university.

5. a senior citizen.

6. (initial capital letter)  a member of the Girl Scouts from 14 through 17 years of age.

senior ¹ British  

/ ˈsiːnjə /

adjective

1. higher in rank or length of service

2. older in years

   senior citizens

3. of or relating to adulthood, maturity, or old age

   senior privileges

4. education

   1. of, relating to, or designating more advanced or older pupils

   2. of or relating to a secondary school

5. of, relating to, or designating students in the fourth and final year at college

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noun

1. a senior person

2. an elderly person

3. 1. a senior pupil, student, etc

   2. a fellow of senior rank in an English university

Senior ² British  

/ ˈsiːnjə /

adjective

1. Abbreviation: Sr.   Sen.  being the older: used to distinguish the father from the son with the same first name or names

   Charles Parker, Senior

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Etymology

Origin of senior

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old, old man + -ior comparative adj. suffix

Example Sentences

"Looking back, many of us feel our lives have been characterized by different phases. It turns out that brains also go through these eras," said senior author Prof Duncan Astle, Professor of Neuroinformatics at Cambridge.

From Science Daily

They will walk out of both emergency and routine care, with senior doctors brought in to provide cover.

From BBC

A senior U.S. official said a Russian base in Libya or at Port Sudan could expand its ability to project power and allow it to operate with impunity.

From The Wall Street Journal

At least 151 people died and many of the complex’s 4,600 residents, including seniors who had lived there for decades, lost their homes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The constitution reserves half of parliamentary seats and senior civil-service jobs for Christians.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• elder
• pensioner
• senior citizen