junior-high-school
UK[ˌdʒuːniə ˈhaɪ skuːl]US[ˌdʒuːniər ˈhaɪ skuːl]
n
A school for students in the grades between elementary school and high school, typically including grades 7 through 9.
Morpheme Breakdown
junior
high
school
junior
younger
high
advanced
school
educational institution
Etymology
The compound term "junior-high-school" is a modern American educational designation. Its first element, "junior," derives from Latin and signifies a younger or subordinate level. It is paired with "high school," a term for secondary education that originated in Scotland in the 16th century, where "high" denoted an advanced stage of learning. The full term, emerging in the early 20th century, logically constructs a specific educational stage: the school (schola) that is at an advanced (high) level but specifically for the younger (junior) cohort preceding senior high school.
Analysis
Structure: junior (younger) + high (advanced) + school (educational institution)
- junior: From Latin iūnior, comparative of iuvenis (young). Denotes a younger or lower-ranking status.
- high: From Old English hēah (of great height, lofty). Used here to indicate an advanced level of education.
- school: From Old English scōl, via Latin schola from Greek skholḗ (leisure, lecture, school). Denotes an institution for instruction.
Examples
She teaches science at the local junior-high-school.
The transition from elementary to junior-high-school can be challenging for many students.
The district is planning to build a new junior-high-school to accommodate the growing population.