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

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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

Elche, El Cid Campeador, El Cordobés, eld, Eldepryl, 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. 2021

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

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)