senior

UK: 'senior', 'Senior': /ˈsiːnjə/ US: /ˈsinjɚ/ ,(sēn′yər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•ior /ˈsinyɚ/   adj. 

1. older (a father whose son is named after him;
   often abbreviated as Sr.):
   [after a noun] John Doe, Sr.
2. of earlier election or appointment:
   the senior senator from New York.
3. of higher rank: [be + ~ + to]
   The captain was senior to him by only a few months.
   [before a noun]
   the senior officers present.
4. of or relating to seniors in high school or college:
   [before a noun] her senior year.
5. of or relating to senior citizens:
   [before a noun] a senior discount.

n. [countable]

6. one who is older than another.
7. a person of higher rank than another, esp. by virtue of longer service:
   The captain was his senior by several months.
8. a student in the final year at a high school or college.
9. a senior citizen:
   a special bus for seniors.

See -sene-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•ior  (sēn′yər), adj. 

1. older or elder (usually 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 would like to see the senior Mr. Hansen Mr. Edward Andrew Hansen, Sr.
   Cf. junior (def. 1).
2. of earlier appointment or admission, as to an office, status, or rank:
   a senior partner.
3. of higher or the highest rank or standing.
4. Education (in American schools, colleges, and universities) of or pertaining to students in their final year or to their class.
5. Education (in certain American colleges and universities) of or pertaining to the final two years of education, during which a student specializes in a certain field of study.
6. of, for, or pertaining to a senior citizen or senior citizens as a group:
   senior discounts on local bus fares.
7. of earlier date;
   prior to:
   His appointment is senior to mine by a year.
8. Stock Exchange, Business [Finance.] having a claim on payments, assets, dividends, or the like prior to other creditors, mortgages, stockholders, etc.

n. 

9. a person who is older than another.
10. a person of higher rank or standing than another, esp. by virtue of longer service.
11. Education (in the U.S.) a student in the final year at a high school, preparatory school, college, or university.
12. Education, British Terms a fellow holding senior rank in a college at an English university.
13. a senior citizen.
14. (cap.) a member of the Girl Scouts from 14 through 17 years of age.

• Latin, equivalent. to sen(ex) old, old man + -ior comparative adjective, adjectival suffix
• Middle English 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

senior / ˈsiːnjə/ adjective

1. higher in rank or length of service
2. older in years: senior citizens
3. of or relating to adulthood, maturity, or old age: senior privileges
4. of, relating to, or designating more advanced or older pupils
5. of or relating to a secondary school
6. of, relating to, or designating students in the fourth and final year at college

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin: older, from senex old

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Senior / ˈsiːnjə/ adjective

1. being the older: used to distinguish the father from the son with the same first name or names: Charles Parker, Senior
   Abbreviation: Sr, Sen