quinquagenarian
Americanadjective
-
50 years of age.
-
between the ages of 50 and 60.
noun
noun
adjective
-
being between 50 and 59 years old
-
of or relating to a quinquagenarian
Usage
What does quinquagenarian mean? A quinquagenarian is someone in their 50s (50 to 59 years old), or someone who is 50 years old. Quinquagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 50s, as in I never thought I’d be a quinquagenarian grandmother, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my quinquagenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s). Quinquagenerian is rarely used. Such words are much more commonly used for older people, especially septuagenarians and octogenarians. Example: Today is my last day as a quinquagenarian—tomorrow I begin my 60s!
Etymology
Origin of quinquagenarian
1560–70; < Latin quīnquāgēnāri ( us ) ( see quinquagenary) + -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Quinquagenarian boxers Mike Tyson, 54, and Roy Jones Jr., 51, have agreed to go eight rounds on Sept. 12.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2020
Quinquagenarian Cummings, with precious little help from Frankie, sends them yelping off with their motorcycles tucked between their legs.
From Time Magazine Archive
He relates a meeting with Emily Hart, the 22-year-old protegee of Quinquagenarian Sir William Hamilton, then English ambassador to Naples.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
