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

The senior diplomat, who is playing a key role in the current talks as he did in the negotiations more than a decade ago, also expressed concern about the American president's conflicting messages.

From BBC

The most senior official is typically seated front and center, with lower-ranking officials distributed to the sides and back.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was senior operations manager for the the UK's Marine Pollution Control Unit and one of the first people to step on board the Sea Empress after it ran aground.

From BBC

“Unlike dogs who can mate a couple times a year, come into heat a couple times a year, wolves aren’t that way,” said Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity.

From Los Angeles Times

Then just 17, he was only in his first full season of senior competition.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elder
• pensioner
• senior citizen