junior

American  

[joon-yer] / ˈdʒun yər /

adjective

1. younger (designating the younger of two men bearing the same full name, as a son named after his father; often written as Jr. or jr. following the name).

   May I speak with the junior Mr. Hansen?

   Mr. Edward Andrew Hansen, Jr.

2. of more recent appointment or admission, as to an office or status; of lower rank or standing.

   a junior partner.

3. (in American universities, colleges, and schools) noting or pertaining to the class or year next below that of the senior.

4. Finance. subordinate to preferred creditors, mortgagees, and the like.

5. of later date; subsequent to.

   His appointment is junior to mine by six months.

6. composed of younger members.

   The junior division of the camp went on the hike.

7. being smaller than the usual size.

   The hotel has special weekend rates on junior suites.

8. (of an iron or steel shape) relatively small, but rolled to a standard form.

9. of, for, or designating clothing in sizes 3–15 or those who wear it.

   a junior dress; junior measurements; the junior department.

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noun

1. a person who is younger than another.

2. a person who is newer or of lower rank in an office, class, profession, etc.; subordinate.

3. a student who is in the next to the final year of a course of study.

4. Often juniors.

   1. a range of odd-numbered sizes, chiefly from 3 to 15, for garments that fit women and girls with shorter waists, narrower shoulders, and smaller bustlines than those of average build.

   2. the department or section of a store where garments in these sizes are sold.

5. a garment in this size range.

6. a woman or girl who wears garments in this size range.

7. (initial capital letter) a member of the Girl Scouts from 9 through 11 years old.

8. Informal. a boy; youth; son.

   Ask junior to give you a hand with the packing.

junior ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒuːnjə /

adjective

1. lower in rank or length of service; subordinate

2. younger in years

   junior citizens

3. of or relating to youth or childhood

   junior pastimes

4. of or relating to schoolchildren between the ages of 7 and 11 approximately

5. of, relating to, or designating the third year of a four-year course at college or high school

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noun

1. law (in England) any barrister below the rank of Queen's Counsel

2. a junior person

3. a junior schoolchild

4. a junior student

Junior ² British  

/ ˈdʒuːnjə /

adjective

1. Abbreviation: Jnr.   Jr.   Jun.   Junr.  being the younger: usually used after a name to distinguish the son from the father with the same first name or names

   Charles Parker, Junior

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Other Word Forms

• prejunior adjective
• subjunior adjective

Etymology

Origin of junior

First recorded in 1520–30, junior is from the Latin word jūnior younger

Example Sentences

Mr. Klingbeil is a co-leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party, or SPD, which is the junior partner in an awkward governing condominium with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democrats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

As a sophomore, he was on junior varsity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

He played second base, third base and shortstop as a junior on varsity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Last year the UCI retired Furrer's race number on the day, 84, from women's junior road races.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Based on his performance on entrance tests, he was accepted as a junior.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow