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

Debbie Wasserman Schultz highlights experience and congressional seniority Wasserman Schultz, who is seeking her 12th term in Congress, entered the District 20 race after her previous district was redrawn. — Tania Francois, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Collins hit back by pitching her seniority and her role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

Political parties value the electoral advantages of incumbents, while constituents may value the seniority, relationships and influence that come with having spent decades serving in Congress. — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

Joe Biden’s decision not to run for re-election prompted a reckoning in the caucus over age and seniority, with younger Democrats challenging more senior committee leaders at the end of the last Congress. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seniority

• authority
• majority
• minority
• priority
• sonority
• sorority
• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority

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