elderly

[el-der-lee]

adjective

1. of advanced age; old.

   discounts for elderly patrons.

2. of or relating to persons in later life.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the elderly elderly people collectively; senior citizens.

elderly

/ ˈɛldəlɪ /

adjective

1. 1. quite old; past middle age

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the elderly

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of elderly¹

First recorded in 1605–15; elder ¹ + -ly

Example Sentences

Natalie said after launching her organisation, she had spoken to families whose children were in school wearing incontinence pads or adult nappies designed for the elderly thanks to ketamine abuse.

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An elderly person also died when a tree fell on them amid downpours earlier in the week, the agency said.

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Medicaid won’t be funding illegal aliens anymore or young able-bodied men with no dependents who are siphoning the system and draining resources from the elderly, disabled, and young pregnant women who really need it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officials said Friday they would promote policies to help with the cost of child-bearing and elderly care.

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Increasingly, elderly captains must rely on help from migrant workers from Vietnam and Indonesia.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aged 
• aging 
• old 
• retired