dotage

American  

[doh-tij] / ˈdoʊ tɪdʒ /

noun

1. a decline of mental faculties, especially as associated with old age; senility.

2. excessive fondness; foolish affection.

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dotage British  

/ ˈdəʊtɪdʒ /

noun

1. feebleness of mind, esp as a result of old age

2. foolish infatuation

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Etymology

Origin of dotage

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at dote, -age

Explanation

The noun dotage describes the mental decline that many elderly people eventually experience. Those in their dotage sometimes act silly or forgetful. The first syllable in dotage rhymes with go: "DOE-tage." The verb dote means "to be silly" and also "to be infatuated," both of which can at times describe those in their dotage (including a renewed interest in romance that many may not have experienced since they were giddy teenagers, in love for the first time).

Example Sentences

Moreover, though stories about starting all over again in one’s dotage are endearing and kindly, as “Calle Málaga” is, they have a core of sheer fantasy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Rebecca Amos, one of the park's vets, says a special diet and some exercise will be key to looking after Victoria in her dotage.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025

Charles took over the family business well past normal retirement age, while Amis was denied the illustrious dotage that great writers deserve.

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

It’s astonishing how little tension or even momentary menace Trevorrow is able to mine from individual action sequences, how tame even T. rex now seems in its late-franchise dotage.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2022

They might or might not have counted themselves happy, though; happiness as they conceived it then was a thing attained, a grand state, involving a fiefdom to survey from the plump comfort of their dotage.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen