Juniors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of students who are usually in their third year of secondary school or college education; a term used for those ranked lower or with less seniority in various contexts; individuals in teams or organizations who have recently started and may have limited experience compared to others
2. Students typically in their third academic year at secondary school or university ; individuals holding a lower status due to less time or achievement ; members of a team or organization who are newer or less advanced
3. Persons usually one grade before the final school year ; those considered inferior in rank or position ; people who are younger or have less authority within a community or group

Etymology: "Juniors" is the plural of "junior," and the singular carries a surprisingly simple core: it is a Latin comparative meaning "younger." Latin "iuvenior" was the comparative of "iuvenis" ("young"), and by contraction it became "iunior," the form English later borrowed. The comparative sense of "younger" is still visible in the way the word is used: a junior is simply the lesser or younger of two, rather than a child. That comparative logic explains the plural's later extensions. Once "junior" meant "the younger one," it was natural to apply it to anyone of lower rank or shorter service, so the word spread from family relationships into schools, workplaces and sports teams. The plural "juniors" therefore covers both the third-year students and the newer members of an organization, all defined by their position relative to others rather than by age alone.

Synonyms: subordinates, underclassmen, novices, trainees, apprentices

Antonyms: seniors, veterans, experts, masters, leaders