# junior

/ˈdʒunjɝ/ (US) · /dʒˈuːnjɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/junior
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. lower in rank

adjective · CEFR B1

having a lower position or less experience in a job.

For teachers: denoting a subordinate status or lower rank within a professional hierarchy.

- She started as a junior designer but hoped to be promoted soon.
- The firm is looking to hire three junior associates to handle the preliminary research for the upcoming merger case.

### 2. younger

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe the younger of two people, often a father and son with the same name.

For teachers: denoting the younger of two persons, typically used to distinguish a son from a father with an identical name.

- The junior Mr. Smith took over the family business last year.
- In many legal documents, the suffix is essential to distinguish the actions of the junior partner from those of his father.

### 3. youth sports

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to sports or competitions for young people under a certain age.

For teachers: pertaining to athletic leagues or competitions restricted to participants below a specific age threshold.

- He played for the junior national team before turning professional.
- The junior championships provide a vital scouting ground for professional clubs looking to identify emerging talent early in their development.

### 4. third-year student

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a student in their third year of a four-year high school or university.

For teachers: a student in the penultimate year of a four-year secondary school or undergraduate degree programme.

- As a junior, she finally started taking classes for her major.
- Most juniors begin their internship applications during the spring semester to ensure a placement before their final year begins.

### 5. younger person

noun · CEFR B1

someone who is younger than another person.

For teachers: a person who is younger than another, often used in a comparative social or familial context.

- He was seven years my junior, but we were very close friends.
- Despite being several years her junior, he possessed a level of professional maturity that commanded respect from the entire board.

### 6. legal professional

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

a lawyer who works under a more experienced lawyer.

For teachers: a barrister who has not yet been appointed King's or Queen's Counsel; a subordinate lawyer on a legal team.

- The senior lawyer asked his junior to prepare the witness list.
- The lead counsel delegated the drafting of the initial motions to a talented junior who had recently joined the chambers.

## Examples

- She is a junior at the local high school.
- As a junior in the law firm, he handles the initial research for the senior partners.
- While the senior members of the committee set the long-term strategy, the juniors are responsible for the daily execution of the project tasks.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.