noun
seniority
seen-YOR-ih-tee/ˌsiːnˈjɔːrəti/
Higher rank or priority based on age or length of service.
Seniority gives the worker priority to lead the newer team members.
Etymology
Built on senior, “older,” this noun expresses the status of being senior. Its early English meaning was priority in office or service, connecting precedence with relative age or length of service.
In context
In the past 2,000 years, Confucianism has been dominant in China, which values seniority and authority.
Now, the way the pay system works is there's two things that are rewarded. One is seniority.
More examples
- Layoffs affect workers with the least seniority first.
- He keeps his seniority when he transfers to another department.
- On this council, seniority goes to the oldest member.
Forms
senior adjective — Higher in standing through age or service.
Similar words
- precedence
- Emphasizes coming before others, not necessarily through age or service.
- rank
- Describes a position in a hierarchy, regardless of service length.