Junior: meaning, definitions and examples

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junior

[ˈdʒuːnɪər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

sports

A junior is a young athlete who competes in sports events for young people, usually under a certain age.

Synonyms

minor, youngster, youth.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
junior	Commonly used in academic or school settings to refer to students in their third year of study, especially in high schools and universities in some countries. Steve is a junior in high school this year. Juniors are preparing for their final exams.
youth	Used to describe a young person in their teenage years or early adulthood. It can also refer to young people collectively. The term often carries a positive connotation of potential and vigor. The youth of today are very tech-savvy. In his youth, he traveled extensively.
youngster	Informal and affectionate term used to refer to a child or teenager. It can be used in everyday conversation or in a friendly manner. The youngsters were playing in the park. She's a lively youngster with a lot of energy.
minor	Legal or formal term used to describe someone who is not yet an adult, typically under the age of 18. Also used in law to indicate a person who does not have certain legal rights or responsibilities due to their age. Minors are not allowed to purchase alcohol. The movie is rated as restricted for minors.

Examples of usage

The junior tennis tournament will take place next week.
She is one of the top juniors in the swimming team.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

education

In the educational context, a junior refers to a student in the third year of a four-year high school or college program.

Synonyms

third-year student.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
junior	Commonly used in a high school or college setting to describe a student who is in their third year of study out of four. This term is also utilized in workplaces to denote employees with less experience or lower ranking. As a junior, she began to think more seriously about her future career. The junior employees are required to attend an additional training session.
third-year student	Explicitly refers to a student who is in their third year of study, commonly used in both high school and university settings. This term is more formal and specific than 'junior'. The third-year students are preparing for their end-of-year examinations. As a third-year student, he decided to take on more challenging courses.

Word

Description / Examples

junior

Commonly used in a high school or college setting to describe a student who is in their third year of study out of four. This term is also utilized in workplaces to denote employees with less experience or lower ranking.

As a junior, she began to think more seriously about her future career.
The junior employees are required to attend an additional training session.

third-year student

Explicitly refers to a student who is in their third year of study, commonly used in both high school and university settings. This term is more formal and specific than 'junior'.

The third-year students are preparing for their end-of-year examinations.
As a third-year student, he decided to take on more challenging courses.

Examples of usage

She will be a senior next year, but right now she is a junior in high school.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word originates from the Latin 'junior', meaning 'younger'.
It became popular in English in the 16th century to describe someone of lower rank or status based on age.
In academic contexts, 'junior' often refers to students in their third year of study (in systems like the U.S. educational system).

Education

In schools, 'junior' typically denotes students in a specific grade, highlighting their progression in education.
Graduating from junior high is a significant milestone for many students as they prepare for high school.
In some contexts, junior programs or clubs offer younger individuals opportunities to develop skills and leadership.

Pop Culture

Many films and books use 'junior' to highlight themes of growing up, such as 'Big Daddy' starring Adam Sandler, where he learns about responsibility.
The word appears in various music tracks, often to reference youth and the carefree nature of being young.
In sports, 'junior' divisions allow younger athletes to compete and showcase their talent on a smaller stage.

Social Structure

'Junior' is sometimes used within family settings, such as naming a son after his father (e.g., John Smith Jr.).
In workplaces, a 'junior' position usually indicates entry-level roles that often lead to more experienced roles.
The term is often contrasted with 'senior,' representing the difference in experience and authority.

Translations

Translations of the word "junior" in other languages:

🇵🇹 júnior

🇮🇳 कनिष्ठ

🇩🇪 Junior

🇮🇩 junior

🇺🇦 молодший

🇵🇱 junior

🇯🇵 ジュニア (junia)

🇫🇷 junior

🇪🇸 junior

🇹🇷 genç

🇰🇷 주니어 (junieo)

🇸🇦 صغير

🇨🇿 junior

🇸🇰 junior

🇨🇳 初级 (chūjí)

🇸🇮 mlajši

🇮🇸 yngri

🇰🇿 кіші

🇬🇪 უმცროსი

🇦🇿 kiçik

🇲🇽 junior

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,562, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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