gerontology

American  

[jer-uhn-tol-uh-jee, jeer-] / ˌdʒɛr ənˈtɒl ə dʒi, ˌdʒɪər- /

noun

1. the branch of science that deals with aging and the problems of aged persons.

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gerontology British  

/ ˌdʒɛrɒntəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the scientific study of ageing and the problems associated with older people Compare geriatrics

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gerontology Cultural  

1. A medical specialty that focuses on the care and treatment of the elderly.

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Discover More

The large number of aging “baby boomers” has increased both the profile and importance of this specialty.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gerontological
  adjective
• gerontologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of gerontology

First recorded in 1900–05; geronto- + -logy

Explanation

Doctors and researchers who study the process of human aging call their field gerontology. There is a slight difference between gerontology and geriatrics, which is the the branch of medicine that focuses on the health and ailments of elderly people. Gerontology overlaps with geriatrics, but it is more specifically the science of the aging process as well as the physical and psychological issues that people deal with as they get older. The word gerontology comes from a Greek root, gerōn, or "old man."