adjective / noun
junior
JOON-yur/ˈdʒuːniər/
Younger relative to another person.
My brother is three years my junior and much taller.
Etymology
The pieces mean “younger,” making junior originally a comparison of age. That comparison extended to experience and standing, so someone junior can be lower in rank rather than younger in years.
In context
In fact, the larger the assets, the less likely you'll get personalized attention. It's often delegated to junior staff and herded into model portfolios.
More examples
- Her husband is two years her junior.
- She is junior to her cousin by just six months.
- Of the two relatives named James, the junior one lives nearby.
Forms
junior · juniors
Similar words
- younger
- Directly compares ages without suggesting rank or shared names.