elderly
Americanadjective
-
of advanced age; old.
discounts for elderly patrons.
-
of or relating to persons in later life.
noun
adjective
Usage
Referring to any group using the formula the elderly , the disabled is nowadays felt to be inappropriate because it glosses over people's individuality and perpetuates stereotypes. It is preferable to use phrases such as disabled people and so forth. Many people also prefer to talk about older rather than elderly people for similar reasons
Other Word Forms
- elderliness noun
- nonelderly noun
- unelderly adjective
Etymology
Origin of elderly
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.
The driver of the Toyota sustained moderate injuries, and an elderly passenger in the Honda also had complaints of pain, the spokesperson said.
From Los Angeles Times
So elderly individuals with a mild amount of plaque may have less aggressive treatment than a younger person with the same level, says Blankstein.
The community across the street from the Dimona strike has relocated some of its elderly to a large bomb shelter in a school, where they plan to stay until the end of the war.
"Not only did she care for her children but she cared for others, worked in the health care setting, cared for the elderly," he said.
From BBC
Mr. Hirsch’s character asks, with an elderly person’s focus on potential health crises.
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.
