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elderly
[ el-der-lee ]
/ ËÉl dÉr li /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
of advanced age; old: discounts for elderly patrons.
of or relating to persons in later life.
noun (used with a plural verb)
Usually the elderly . elderly people collectively; senior citizens.
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OTHER WORDS FROM elderly
eld·er·li·ness, nounnon·eld·er·ly, nounun·eld·er·ly, adjectiveWords nearby elderly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use elderly in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for elderly
elderly
/ (ËÉldÉlÉȘ) /
adjective (of people)
- quite old; past middle age
- (as collective noun; preceded by the)the elderly Related adjective: geriatric
Derived forms of elderly
elderliness, nounusage for elderly
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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