seniority
Americannoun
plural
seniorities-
the state of being senior; priority of birth; superior age.
-
priority, precedence, or status obtained as the result of a person's length of service, as in a profession, trade, company, or union.
First choice of vacation time will be given to employees with seniority.
noun
-
the state of being senior
-
precedence in rank, etc, due to senior status
Etymology
Origin of seniority
1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin seniōritās, equivalent to Latin senior senior + -itās -ity
Explanation
Seniority refers to being ranked higher in an organization since you have been there longer. Who has seniority in a high school? The seniors of course! You know how older people are called senior citizens or seniors? That should help you remember what seniority is: the longer someone stays within an organization, the more they have of it. A new worker has hardly any seniority. Someone working at a job for 20 years has a lot of seniority. Having seniority is like having a higher rank or status.
Vocabulary lists containing seniority
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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The Titan's Curse
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Selection Vocabulary 1, Unit 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The pending contract includes seniority and layoff protections, higher wages and outlines provisions for progressive discipline and a stepped grievance process, the Writers Guild Staff Union said in a statement Friday.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
Plenty of older lawmakers continue to capably serve; in some cases, seniority can make them more effective advocates for their constituents.
From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026
A combined company would also have to integrate complex union seniority lists; harmonize a massive fleet, which comprises both Boeing and Airbus jets; and face a web of co-branded card programs offered by each airline.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Such has been Woods' standing in the game, his influence has grown with seniority despite a history of wayward driving stretching back almost two decades.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
With all her seniority, people said, she ought to be able to bid something good—meaning easy.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
