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

Explanation

You can use the word senior to describe anyone who's older than you are. You might say, "My brother is six years my senior," especially if you want to make him feel old. Senior means "older," but it also means "old or aged," like your grandmother, who despite being a senior citizen, continues her skydiving hobby. A senior is also a student in the final year of either high school or college, or an authority: "She holds a senior position in the State Department." The Latin word senior means "older," and it's the basis of respectful terms in many languages, like señor in Spanish and sire in French.

Example Sentences

“It’s certainly well within the capacity of the forces that are there to mount a blockade,” said Bryan Clark, a retired naval officer and senior researcher at the Hudson Institute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

In her own research, Dr Ola Demkowicz, senior lecturer in psychology of education in the Manchester Institute of Education, has spoken with young women about issues affecting their mental health.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Lengthy negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend between senior U.S. and Iranian officials failed to secure a long-term agreement.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

The other senior author is Markus Stoffel, MD, PhD, professor of metabolic diseases at the Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

“So Pinewood holds a special meaning for creaky old birdwatchers like me. As a goodwill gesture, MI6 makes a senior agent available to offer technical expertise on any films that feature the Secret Intelligence Service.”

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• elder
• pensioner
• senior citizen