gerontocracy

[ jer-uhn-tok-ruh-see, jeer- ]

noun

, plural ger·on·toc·ra·cies.

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.

gerontocracy

/ dʒəˌrɒntəˈkrætɪk; ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by old people
2. a governing body of old people

gerontocracy

1. A society ruled by elders.

Derived Forms

• geˈrontoˌcrat, noun
• gerontocratic, adjective

Other Words From

• ge·ron·to·crat [j, uh, -, ron, -t, uh, -krat], noun
• ge·ronto·cratic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerontocracy¹

First recorded in 1820–30; geronto- + -cracy

Example Sentences

Now that Americans can expect to live more than twice that long, the government has become a gerontocracy.

From Time

The latest SNL controversy has almost nothing to do with Elon Musk and everything to do with the baby boomer gerontocracy.

From Vox

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

From Project Gutenberg