Etimology
From Middle English senior, from Latin senior (“older”), comparative form of senex (“old”); see senate. Doublet of seigneur, seignior, senhor, señor, signore, sir, and sire.
adjective
senior (comparative more senior, superlative most senior)
Older; superior
Higher in rank, dignity, or office.
(US) Of or pertaining to a student's final academic year at a high school (twelfth grade) or university.
Examples
senior citizen
senior member; senior counsel
Related words
synonyms
(older): geriatric, long in the tooth, on in years; see also Thesaurus:elderly
antonyms
junior
related terms
senile
senate
sir
noun
senior (plural seniors)
(now chiefly US) An old person.
Someone older than someone else (with possessive). [from 15th c.]
Someone seen as deserving respect or reverence because of their age. [from 14th c.]
(obsolete, biblical) An elder or presbyter in the early Church. [14th–16th c.]
Somebody who is higher in rank, dignity, or office.
(US, Philippines) A final-year student at a high school or university. [from 17th c.]
Examples
Synonyms: senior citizen; see also Thesaurus:old person
Grave and reverend seniors seemed to have caught the prevailing spirit as badly as the students, and I saw white-bearded men rising and shaking their fists at the obdurate Professor.
He was four years her senior.
Then Peter full of the holy gooſt ſayd vnto them. Ye ruelars of the people / and ſeniours of iſrahel […].
Related words
antonyms
junior