seniority

American  

[seen-yawr-i-tee, -yor-] / sinˈyɔr ɪ ti, -ˈyɒr- /

noun

PLURAL

seniorities

1. the state of being senior; priority of birth; superior age.

2. 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.

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seniority British  

/ ˌsiːnɪˈɒrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being senior

2. precedence in rank, etc, due to senior status

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seniority Cultural  

1. Length of service on a job. Seniority may be considered in making decisions about wages, layoffs, and other working conditions.

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Etymology

Origin of seniority

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin seniōritās, equivalent to Latin senior senior + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Encouraging those speaking to state their assumptions, not just their conclusions, helps others challenge the reasoning rather than deferring to seniority.

From The Wall Street Journal

They often ate together at a family-run diner near the Capitol, following the chief justice to their regular table and seating themselves in order of seniority.

From Salon

China last purged military officials at this level of seniority roughly a decade ago, when the party expelled two retired CMC vice chairmen on corruption charges during Xi’s first term as leader.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite this, she told Axios on Thursday that she would seek reelection in 2026: “I say my seniority is what is very important, and I am not going to step aside.”

From Salon

These challengers often criticize the seniority of older lawmakers.

From Salon

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