シニア

シ

ニ

ア

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

senior; older person

Loanword from English 'senior'. Often used in contexts like senior citizens, senior employees, or senior members of a group. Can also appear in compounds like シニア世代 (senior generation).

このクラブはシニアの会かい員いんが多おおい。
This club has many senior members.
シニア向むけのスマートフォン教きょう室しつが開ひらかれた。
A smartphone class for seniors was held.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

シニア向むけの〈物もの〉something designed/aimed at seniors
このスマートフォンはシニア向むけの製せい品ひんです。
This smartphone is a product designed for seniors.
シニア世せ代だいthe senior generation
シニア世せ代だいの消しょう費ひが増ふえている。
Spending by the senior generation is increasing.
シニア割わり引びきsenior discount
映えい画が館かんでシニア割わり引びきを利り用ようした。
I used the senior discount at the movie theater.

Related words

年ねん配ぱいN1
年配 is a native Japanese word for 'elderly/older in age', while シニア is an English loanword with a more modern, business-oriented or marketing feel.
高こう齢れい者しゃN2
高齢者 is the formal, official term for an elderly person used in medical or government contexts, whereas シニア is a softer, more casual term often starting from a younger age (50s-60s).
お年とし寄よりN4
シニア is a softer, marketing-style loanword used for seniors in contexts like discounts or sports categories, while お年寄り is the general polite term for elderly people.

Opposites

ジュニア
ジュニア refers to a younger or junior member, the direct opposite of シニア in age-grouped contexts like sports teams or organizations.
ユース
シニア (senior/older people) is often paired with ユース (youth) in marketing and organizational contexts, such as シニア向け vs. ユース向け products.

Don't confuse with

シビアN1
シニア (meaning 'senior') sounds similar to シビア but has a completely unrelated meaning, so learners can easily mix up these two katakana words.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Word family

シニアカー
mobility scooter
シニアハイスクール
senior high school
シニアマネージャー
senior manager

Etymology

Loanword from English 'senior'.