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gerontocracy

[jer-uh n-tok-ruh-see, jeer-] /ˌdʒɛr ənˈtɒk rə si, ˌdʒɪər-/
noun, plural gerontocracies.
1.
government by a council of elders.
2.
a governing body consisting of old people.
3.
a state or government in which old people rule.
Origin of gerontocracy
1820-1830
1820-30; geronto- + -cracy
Related forms
gerontocrat
[juh-ron-tuh-krat] /dʒəˈrɒn təˌkræt/ (Show IPA), noun
gerontocratic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.
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Examples from the Web for gerontocracy
Historical Examples

  • gerontocracy, that is, government by the aged, is the most ancient form of government.

    The Cult of Incompetence Emile Faguet
British Dictionary definitions for gerontocracy

gerontocracy

/ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒkrəsɪ/
noun (pl) -cies
1.
government by old people
2.
a governing body of old people
Derived Forms
gerontocratic (dʒəˌrɒntəˈkrætɪk) adjective
gerontocrat, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for gerontocracy
n.

rule by old men, 1830, from Greek geront-, from geron "old man" (see gerontology) + kratia "rule" (see -cracy). Related: Gerontocratic.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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gerontocracy in Culture
gerontocracy [(jer-uhn-tok-ruh-see)]

A society ruled by elders.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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