DictionaryassociateLower professional rank
noun / adjective

associate

Holding a professional rank below a senior or full member.

An associate professor leads the seminar while the department chair is away.

Etymology

Latin associare meant to join as a companion. A professional associate is joined to an organization or senior colleague, with the title specifying a rank short of full or senior status.

More examples

  • The firm hired three new associates this summer.
  • She was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
  • The journal's associate editor reviewed the submitted article.

Forms

associate · associates

Similar words

junior
Describes relative seniority without naming a specific professional rank.
assistant
Often names a subordinate role below an associate position.