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.
of earlier appointment or admission, as to an office, status, or rank.
a senior partner.
of higher or the highest rank or standing.
(in American schools, colleges, and universities) of or relating to students in their final year or to their class.
(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.
of, for, or pertaining to a senior citizen or senior citizens as a group.
senior discounts on local bus fares.
of earlier date; prior to.
His appointment is senior to mine by a year.
Finance. having a claim on payments, assets, dividends, or the like prior to other creditors, mortgages, stockholders, etc.
a person who is older than another.
a person of higher rank or standing than another, especially by virtue of longer service.
(in the U.S.) a student in the final year at a high school, preparatory school, college, or university.
a fellow holding senior rank in a college at an English university.
(initial capital letter) a member of the Girl Scouts from 14 through 17 years of age.
higher in rank or length of service
older in years
senior citizens
of or relating to adulthood, maturity, or old age
senior privileges
education
of, relating to, or designating more advanced or older pupils
of or relating to a secondary school
of, relating to, or designating students in the fourth and final year at college
a senior person
an elderly person
a senior pupil, student, etc
a fellow of senior rank in an English university
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old, old man + -ior comparative adj. suffix
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.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
