junior
JOO-nee-uh
Junior (adj) means Lower in rank, position, or seniority. Example: “She started as a junior analyst straight out of university.”
adj
1
Lower in rank, position, or seniority.
"She started as a junior analyst straight out of university."
"He's junior to me, so I sign off on his work."
"The junior doctors work long shifts and report to a senior consultant."
2
Younger, especially the younger of two people with the same name (often father and son).
"John Smith junior took over the shop when his father retired."
"Is that the senior or the junior member of the family?"
"His son goes by "junior" at family gatherings."
noun
1
A student in the third year of a four-year high school or university program.
"She's a junior this year, so college applications start soon."
"As a junior, he is taking extra exams to prepare for university."
"Every junior in the school was invited to the careers fair."
2
A younger or less experienced person, especially in a job.
"The juniors handle the smaller accounts while seniors manage the big clients."
"The firm hired a junior to answer the phones and sort the post."
"Ask one of the juniors if you need help with the photocopier."
How to use junior
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLower-ranking or younger — used for job titles, school years, and to distinguish a son from a father of the same name.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
junior partner
junior high school
junior varsity
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like junior.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- juniors
- Third person singular
- juniors
- Past tense
- juniored
- Comparative
- more junior
- Superlative
- most junior
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She started as a _____ analyst straight out of university.
Etymology
From Latin junior, "younger," the comparative form of iuvenis, "young" — the same root as juvenile.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for junior
See all rhymes for junior →Frequently asked questions
What does “junior” mean?
The word “junior” means lower in rank, position, or seniority. In plain terms, lower-ranking or younger — used for job titles, school years, and to distinguish a son from a father of the same name.
How do you pronounce “junior”?
“Junior” is pronounced JOO-nee-uh (/ˈd͡ʒuniɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “junior” in a sentence?
Here is “junior” used in a sentence: “She started as a junior analyst straight out of university.”
What part of speech is “junior”?
Depending on how it is used, “junior” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “junior” come from?
The word “junior” comes from Latin. From Latin junior, "younger," the comparative form of iuvenis, "young" — the same root as juvenile.
Is “junior” a common word?
“Junior” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “junior” have?
“Junior” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lower in rank, position, or seniority.
What is the difference between junior and senior?
Junior and senior are direct opposites of rank. Junior means lower in position, authority, or seniority, while senior means higher. A junior employee reports to a senior one; a junior partner has less standing than a senior partner. The words also mark age order, as in naming a son after his father.
Does junior always mean younger?
Not necessarily. In its main sense, junior refers to rank or seniority rather than age, so a junior colleague could be older than a senior one. It does carry an age meaning in some uses, such as junior school or a father-and-son pair, but at work it usually signals experience and position.
Is junior a negative word?
No, junior is neutral and descriptive rather than an insult. It simply places someone lower in a hierarchy, often early in a career with room to grow. Titles like junior developer or junior doctor are standard and respected. It only sounds negative if used to belittle someone's experience or dismiss their opinion.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include junior:
