# senior

/ˈsinjɝ/ (US) · /sˈiːnjɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. higher in rank

adjective · CEFR B1

having a higher position or more authority in a company or organization.

For teachers: holding a superior position, rank, or status within a professional hierarchy.

- She was promoted to a senior manager position after five years with the firm.
- The senior partners met privately to discuss the long-term implications of the proposed merger on the firm's equity structure.

### 2. older

adjective · CEFR B1

older than someone else, or for people who are older.

For teachers: older in years; often used to distinguish between two people with the same name or to describe services for the elderly.

- The local community center offers a senior exercise class every Tuesday morning.
- The senior Mr. Reynolds retired to the coast, leaving the day-to-day operations of the family estate to his son.

### 3. final year of school

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

related to the last year of high school or university.

For teachers: pertaining to the final year of a four-year academic program in high school or college.

- He is excited about his senior prom at the end of the year.
- During her senior year, she balanced a heavy course load with several internship applications and graduate school interviews.

### 4. an older person

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a person who is old, especially someone who has retired from work.

For teachers: an elderly person, typically one who has reached the age of retirement.

- The pharmacy offers a ten percent discount to seniors on Wednesdays.
- The city council is debating new funding for transportation services specifically designed to help seniors reach medical appointments.

### 5. final-year student

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a student who is in their last year of high school or university.

For teachers: a student in the fourth and final year of a standard secondary or collegiate curriculum.

- The seniors are busy preparing their final projects before graduation in June.
- As a senior, he felt a strange mix of nostalgia and relief while walking across the campus for his final exam.

### 6. someone higher in rank

noun · CEFR B2

someone who has a higher position than you at work.

For teachers: a person who is superior to another in rank, standing, or length of service.

- If you have a problem with the project, you should speak to your senior.
- The new recruits were encouraged to seek mentorship from their seniors to better understand the company's internal culture.

## Examples

- He is a senior at the local tennis club.
- After winning the youth championship, she was finally promoted to the senior team this season.
- Transitioning from junior to senior competition requires not only physical development but also a significant shift in mental resilience to face more experienced opponents.

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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.