Senior — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈsē-nyər/ se·nior

Meaning & Definition of Senior

Senior (noun)

  1. a person older than another
  2. a person with higher standing or rank
  3. a senior fellow of a college at an English university

Senior (adjective)

  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
  3. of, relating to, or intended for seniors

Senior (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being of advanced years and especially past middle age

    "bought special food intended for senior dogs"

    similar: aged, aging, ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, over-the-hill, senescent, unyoung, long in the tooth, of a certain age
    related: centenarian, nonagenarian, octogenarian, septuagenarian, sexagenarian, oldish, adult, grown-up, mature, middle-aged, pensioned, retired, superannuated, matriarchal, patriarchal, venerable, anile, decrepit, doddering, senile, spavined, tottery, overage
    opposite: young, youthful
    near: ageless, youngish, adolescent, immature, juvenile, preteen, puerile, minor, underage, callow, green, inexperienced, raw, babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish

Senior (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who is older than another

    "since the man next door is my senior by a number of years, I always address him as Mr. Barton"

    similar: elder
    related: ancestor, forerunner, predecessor
    opposite: junior
    near: contemporary, peer, descendant, successor

  2. one who is above another in rank, station, or office

    "the young attorney benefited from the mentorship of one of his seniors at the firm"

    similar: better, elder, superior
    related: boss, chief, head, leader, master
    opposite: inferior, subordinate, underling
    near: assistant, deputy

  3. the senior member of a group

    "when he retires, she will be the senior on the faculty"

    similar: dean, doyen, elder, elder statesman, éminence grise, nestor
    related: better, superior, old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran
    opposite: baby, junior
    near: doyenne, inferior, subordinate, underling, beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

  4. a person of advanced years

    "weekday movie matinees are often popular with seniors"

    similar: ancient, elder, geriatric, golden-ager, old-timer, oldster, senior citizen
    related: gaffer, graybeard, patriarch, whitebeard, beldam, dowager, grandam, adult, grown-up, dotard
    opposite: youngster, youth
    near: adolescent, minor, child, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie

Related Entry: Senior citizen (noun)

Senior citizen is a different word from Senior. The synonyms below are for senior citizen, not for senior.

  1. a person of advanced years

    "more and more senior citizens are living active, rewarding lives"

    similar: ancient, elder, geriatric, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior
    related: gaffer, graybeard, patriarch, whitebeard, beldam, dowager, grandam, adult, grown-up, dotard
    opposite: youngster, youth
    near: adolescent, minor, child, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie

Related Entry: Senior high school (noun)

Senior high school is a different word from Senior. The synonyms below are for senior high school, not for senior.

  1. an educational institution that includes the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and often also the 9th grade

    similar: common school, elementary school, grammar school, high school, junior high school, kindergarten, middle school, primary school, public school, secondary school, trade school, training school, academe, academy, school, seminary, boarding school, prep, preparatory school, prep school, charter school, magnet school, minischool, madrassa, Sunday school, yeshiva

Related Entry: Senior citizens (noun)

Senior citizens is a different word from Senior. The synonyms below are for senior citizens, not for senior.

  1. a person of advanced years

    "more and more senior citizens are living active, rewarding lives"

    similar: ancients, elders, geriatrics, golden-agers, oldsters, old-timers, seniors
    related: gaffers, graybeards, patriarchs, whitebeards, beldams, dowagers, grandams, adults, grown-ups, dotards
    opposite: youngsters, youths
    near: adolescents, minors, children, cubs, juveniles, kiddies, kids

Related Entry: Senior high schools (noun)

Senior high schools is a different word from Senior. The synonyms below are for senior high schools, not for senior.

  1. an educational institution that includes the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and often also the 9th grade

    similar: common schools, elementary schools, grammar schools, high schools, junior high schools, kindergartens, middle schools, primary schools, public schools, secondary schools, trade schools, training schools, academes, academies, schools, seminaries, boarding schools, preparatory schools, preps, prep schools, charter schools, magnet schools, minischools, madrassas, Sunday schools, yeshivas

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Senior

The most common words with a similar meaning to Senior:

aged, aging, ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, over-the-hill, senescent, unyoung, long in the tooth, of a certain age, elder, better, superior, dean, doyen, elder statesman, éminence grise, nestor, golden-ager, old-timer, oldster, senior citizen

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Senior

Words with the opposite meaning of Senior:

young, youthful, junior, inferior, subordinate, underling, baby, youngster, youth

Related Words for Senior

centenarian, nonagenarian, octogenarian, septuagenarian, sexagenarian, oldish, adult, grown-up, mature, middle-aged, pensioned, retired, superannuated, matriarchal, patriarchal, venerable, anile, decrepit, doddering, senile, spavined, tottery, overage, ancestor, forerunner, predecessor, boss, chief, head, leader

Near Antonyms of Senior

ageless, youngish, adolescent, immature, juvenile, preteen, puerile, minor, underage, callow, green, inexperienced, raw, babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish, contemporary, peer, descendant, successor, assistant, deputy, doyenne, beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman

Origin & Etymology of Senior

Middle English, from Latin, from senior, adjective

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Senior

Words & Phrases Containing Senior

senior airman, senior chief petty officer, senior citizen, senior high school, senior master sergeant, senior moment

Frequently Asked Questions about Senior

What does "Senior" mean?

"Senior" means a person older than another. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a person older than another. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Senior"?

Other words for "Senior" include aged, aging, ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old and older. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Senior" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Senior"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Senior". Common alternatives include aged, aging, ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, over-the-hill and senescent.

What is the opposite of "Senior"?

Antonyms of "Senior" include young, youthful, junior, inferior, subordinate, underling, baby and youngster. Near antonyms include ageless, youngish, adolescent and immature.

How do you use "Senior" in a sentence?

Examples of "Senior" in a sentence: "bought special food intended for senior dogs"; "since the man next door is my senior by a number of years, I always address him as Mr. Barton"; "the young attorney benefited from the mentorship of one of his seniors at the firm".

Is "Senior" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Senior" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Senior" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Senior" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Senior"?

"Senior" is pronounced /ˈsē-nyər/ and divided into syllables as se·nior.