Seniority

/sɪˈnɪərɪti/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The fact or state of being older or higher in status than someone else.

In our department, promotions are often based on seniority rather than merit.

The length of time that a person has worked for a particular company or organization.

Employees with greater seniority are entitled to more vacation days.

A system in which the higher the seniority, the more privileges and rights a person has.

The seniority system in the military can affect assignment and promotion opportunities.

Derived from the Latin word 'senior', meaning 'older'.

last in, first out:

A policy that lays off the most recently hired employees first, often applied in a seniority system.

seniority rights:

Entitlements based on one's length of service.

rank and file:

Regular members of an organization, as contrasted with its leadership.

Old-timer

He’s an old-timer around here; his seniority speaks for itself.

Greybeard

In meetings, the greybeards often have the final say due to their seniority.