1
: a person older than another
five years my senior
2
a
: a person with higher standing or rank
b
: a senior fellow of a college at an English university
c
: a student in the year preceding graduation from a school of secondary or higher level
3
capitalized
: a member of a program of the Girl Scouts for girls in the 9th through 12th grades in school
4
1
: of prior birth, establishment, or enrollment
—often used to distinguish a father with the same given name as his son
2
: higher ranking : superior
senior officers
3
: of, relating to, or intended for seniors
a senior center
4
: having a claim on corporate assets and income prior to other securities
Examples of senior in a Sentence
Noun
As his senior, she commanded quite a bit of respect.
She was his senior in rank.
high school juniors and seniors
Adjective
the senior vice president of marketing
She is a senior aide to the president.
a senior editor for the magazine
He recently became a senior partner in the accounting firm.
the men's senior baseball league
Recent Examples on the Web
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
The Gaels are mature, too, with three seniors in the starting five.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Caroline Price, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
The Defense Department has sent lists of its probationary employees to the Trump administration, according to a senior official, as the Pentagon braces for layoffs that have rocked other parts of the federal government in recent weeks.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senior
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Noun
Five $1,000 Badge of Honor Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors with a parent, grandparent or legal guardian who is an active member of law enforcement, fire protection service, health care or an EMT in San Diego County.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
The Gaels are mature, too, with three seniors in the starting five.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
The senior now needs a perfect score on the uneven bars to complete a coveted ‘Gym Slam:’ a perfect score on every event.
—Caroline Price, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
The Defense Department has sent lists of its probationary employees to the Trump administration, according to a senior official, as the Pentagon braces for layoffs that have rocked other parts of the federal government in recent weeks.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for senior
Articles Related to senior
Cite this Entry
“Senior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/senior. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
senior
1 of 2 noun
se·nior
ˈsē-nyər 
1
: a person who is older than another
five years my senior
2
a
: a person with higher standing or rank
b
: a student in the final year of high school or college
senior
2 of 2 adjective1
: being older
—used to distinguish a father from a son with the same name
John Doe, Senior
2
: higher ranking
senior officers
the senior partner of the law firm
3
: of or relating to seniors in an educational institution
the senior class
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