Dignified senior to receive award (5)
I believe the answer is:
sober
'dignified' is the definition.
(sober can mean dignified or solemn)
'senior to receive award' is the wordplay.
'senior' becomes 'sr.' (similar in meaning).
'to receive' indicates putting letters inside.
'award' becomes 'OBE' (Order of the British Empire).
'sr' enclosing 'obe' is 'SOBER'.
(Other definitions for sober that I've seen before include "Serious or solemn and not drunk" , "In control of one's faculties" , "Far from drunk" , "Unaffected by drink" , "Sedate - staid" .)