seniority
noun
se·nior·i·ty
sēn-ˈyȯr-ə-tē 
-ˈyär-
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
The clip shows the headmaster greet the Wales family in order of seniority starting with William, then Kate and then George, the second in line to the throne.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Hernandez was left out of the next game against Genoa and although he was soon reintegrated and skippered the team at the weekend, the gesture to hand him the armband was perceived as an olive branch rather than a routine acknowledgement of his seniority.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Schiff’s serving out the remainder of Feinstein’s term and Kim the remainder of Menendez’s term will give them a sliver of seniority over the other incoming freshman senators elected last month, who take office next month.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Craig, a swing-district moderate from the Minneapolis suburbs, was first elected to Congress in 2018.
Between the lines: Craig, 52, is a relatively junior member of the Agriculture Committee, third from the bottom in seniority.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seniority 
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Hernandez was left out of the next game against Genoa and although he was soon reintegrated and skippered the team at the weekend, the gesture to hand him the armband was perceived as an olive branch rather than a routine acknowledgement of his seniority.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Schiff’s serving out the remainder of Feinstein’s term and Kim the remainder of Menendez’s term will give them a sliver of seniority over the other incoming freshman senators elected last month, who take office next month.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Craig, a swing-district moderate from the Minneapolis suburbs, was first elected to Congress in 2018.
Between the lines: Craig, 52, is a relatively junior member of the Agriculture Committee, third from the bottom in seniority.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seniority
Dictionary Entries Near seniority
Cite this Entry
“Seniority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seniority. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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