seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ə-tē 

-ˈyär-

1

: the quality or state of being senior : priority

2

: a privileged status attained by length of continuous service (as in a company)

Examples of seniority in a Sentence

Promotions are based on merit and seniority.

a teacher with less seniority

He has worked here longer than I have, so he has seniority over me.

Recent Examples on the Web

His campaign has focused on his legislative achievements and his seniority. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Structuring time off by seniority can breed resentment. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Even so, their seniority isn’t always enough to bat away the financial blues. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024

These cognitive benefits are crucial for performing day-to-day tasks in any industry at all levels of seniority. —Sammy Rubin, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ət-ē 

-ˈyär-

1

: the quality or state of being senior

2

: a privileged position arrived at by length of service

Legal Definition

seniority

noun

se·​nior·​i·​ty sēn-ˈyȯr-ə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being senior

2

: the senior status attained by length of continuous service (as in a company)

also : the length of such continuous service