elder

[ el-der ]

/ ˈɛl dər /

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See synonyms for: elder / elders on Thesaurus.com

adjective, a comparative of old, with eldest as superlative.

of greater age; older.

of higher rank; senior: an elder officer.

of or relating to former times; earlier: Much that was forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.

noun

a person who is older or higher in rank than oneself.

an aged person.

an influential member of a tribe or community, often a chief or ruler; a superior.

a presbyter.

(in certain Protestant churches) a lay member who is a governing officer, often assisting the pastor in services.

Mormon Church. a member of the Melchizedek priesthood.

OPPOSITES FOR elder

1 younger.

See antonyms for elder on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of elder

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldra, comparative of eald, ald; see old

synonym study for elder

1. See older.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH elder

elder , older (see synonym study at older)

Words nearby elder

El Cerrito, Elche, El Cid Campeador, El Cordobés, eld, elder, elderberry, Elder Brethren, eldercare, elder hand, Elderhostel

Other definitions for elder (2 of 2)

elder²

[ el-der ]

/ ˈɛl dər /

noun

any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Sambucus, of the honeysuckle family, having pinnate leaves, clusters of white flowers, and red or black, berrylike fruit.

Origin of elder

First recorded before 900; Middle English eldre, elrene, ellerne, Old English ellærn; cognate with Middle Low German ellern

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT ELDER

What does elder mean?

Elder describes something or someone older. For example, if you have two sons, one is the elder son (the older one, born first) and one is the junior son (the younger one, born second).

Elder also describes being of higher rank, or more senior.

An elder is an old person. Old might depend on who you ask. To a 5-year-old child, a 50-year-old person might seem old, while to an 80-year-old, that 50-year-old is young. However, elder always means someone older than you.

An elder is also an influential person in a community, often a ruler or part of a committee of rulers, and often older or more senior than most people in the community.

An elder is also a tree in the honeysuckle family. Elderflowers and elderberries come from an elder tree.

Example: Of the queen’s two daughters, the elder became queen, while the younger became a great warrior.

Where does elder come from?

The first records of the term elder meaning “older” come from before the year 900.

It ultimately comes from the Old English word eldra.

The first records of the term elder referring to a type of tree also come from before the year 900. It ultimately comes from the Old English word ellaern.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for elder?

What are some words that share a root or word element with elder?

What are some words that often get used in discussing elder?

What are some words elder may be commonly confused with?

older
alder

How is elder used in real life?

Elder is a common word used to refer to someone older or more senior than the speaker. It’s also used to refer to trees or shrubs from the honeysuckle family.

Thanks for a great start to the day! @WillowWinsham signing off now, but #FolkloreThursday will return with @HerbalStorytell at 11am GMT for more fabulous proverbs, words of wisdom, and old sayings! (Image: Pieter Brueghel the Elder: Netherlandish Proverbs via wikimedia commons) pic.twitter.com/fBnABWHMhw

— Folklore Thursday (@FolkloreThurs) November 5, 2020

Rise up stick, & stand still, stone
For King of England thou shalt be none
Thou & they men hoar stones shall be
And I myself an eldern tree

The witch’s curse before she turned a king & his army into the Rollright Stones and herself into an elder tree

#FolkloreThursday pic.twitter.com/U8TodwBWGm

— Hilary R Sparkes (@HilaryRSparkes) November 5, 2020

“ autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge” is why they are serenading each other. Or maybe they are summoning the elder gods, it’s hard to tell with owls.

— mediocrebirder (@tinajkl) September 20, 2022

Try using elder!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of elder?

A. youngster
B. senior
C. veteran
D. matriarch

How to use elder in a sentence

In this country, everything is disposable and expendable, and our elders are one of the greatest resources we have in this country and in the world.
Debbie Allen’s Grandmother Love Doubled|Joi-Marie McKenzie|September 11, 2020|Essence.com
Mallott took the stage, talking about his youth in Southeast Alaska and the importance of elders and youths working together to improve safety, security and respect.
The Woman Propositioned by Alaska’s Former Lieutenant Governor Tells Her Story for the First Time|by Kyle Hopkins and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
An elder sister whose eyes were always forlorn had revealed that her husband used to whip her and that she had even thought of ending her life.
The Teenager Breaking Up Child Marriages, Door to Door|Pallabi Munsi|September 2, 2020|Ozy
After the game, the elder Thompson intercepted a reporter’s question about the shirts directed at his son.
John Thompson’s Unapologetic Blackness Changed College Basketball|Santul Nerkar|September 1, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Nursing homes and other elder care facilities have needed to change since well before coronavirus.
Covid-19 will permanently change senior living|Quartz Staff|July 29, 2020|Quartz
“Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer,” the elder Brown had said last week in a public-service video.
Darren Wilson Wasn’t Indicted—the System Was|Michael Daly|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our escort, Hajji Zalwar Khan, is the chief elder in charge of the valley council.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As another elder in the valley put it—perhaps more succinctly—“emotions are for women.”
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He speaks of her much as he might of his elder son, the SEAL.
For Next AG, Obama Picks a Quiet Fighter With a Heavy Punch|Michael Daly|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
William Kristol, the editor of The Weekly Standard, was in rare agreement with the elder Paul.
Republican Hawks Already Have a War Plan for ISIS, Ukraine, and Obama|Eli Lake|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here the speaker, putting her hand before her mouth, coughed again, and looked affectionately at the elder Mr. Weller.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
“My sister is passionately fond of children,” said the elder lady, in smiling apology.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
"All right, Pater," you would say, and leave the matter in the hands of the elder generation.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
You see, your two elder brothers went to the University, but then we could find them family livings.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
Moreover, it circulated over all the state where the Elder was well known, and gave the gossips great food for delight.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for elder (1 of 3)

elder¹

/ (ˈɛldə) /

adjective

born earlier; seniorCompare older

(in piquet and similar card games) denoting or relating to the nondealer (the elder hand), who has certain advantages in the play

archaic

prior in rank, position, or office
of a previous time; former

noun

an older person; one's senior

anthropol a senior member of a tribe who has influence or authority

(in certain Protestant Churches) a lay office having teaching, pastoral, or administrative functions

another word for presbyter

Derived forms of elder

eldership, noun

Word Origin for elder

Old English eldra, comparative of eald old; related to Old Norse ellri, Old High German altiro, Gothic althiza

usage for elder

The word elder is being increasingly used, as a more respectful way of referring to older people: elder care, elder abuse

British Dictionary definitions for elder (2 of 3)

elder²

/ (ˈɛldə) /

noun

Also called: elderberry any of various caprifoliaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Sambucus, having clusters of small white flowers and red, purple, or black berry-like fruits

any of various unrelated plants, such as box elder and marsh elder

Compare alder

Word Origin for elder

Old English ellern; related to Old Norse elrir, Old High German erlīn, Old Slavonic jelǐcha, Latin alnus

British Dictionary definitions for elder (3 of 3)

Elder

/ (ˈɛldə) /

noun

Sir Mark Philip. born 1947, British conductor; musical director of the English National Opera (1979–93) and of the Hallé Orchestra from 2000

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

elder

OPPOSITES FOR elder

Origin of elder

synonym study for elder

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH elder

Words nearby elder

Other definitions for elder (2 of 2)

Origin of elder

MORE ABOUT ELDER

What does elder mean?

Where does elder come from?

Did you know … ?

How is elder used in real life?

Try using elder!

Words related to elder

How to use elder in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for elder (1 of 3)

Derived forms of elder

Word Origin for elder

usage for elder

British Dictionary definitions for elder (2 of 3)

Word Origin for elder

British Dictionary definitions for elder (3 of 3)