eldest

American  

[el-dist] / ˈɛl dɪst /

adjective

1. oldest; firstborn; of greatest age: eldest sister;

   eldest brother;

   eldest sister;

   eldest born.

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eldest British  

/ ˈɛldɪst /

adjective

1. being the oldest, esp the oldest surviving child of the same parents

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Etymology

Origin of eldest

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldesta, superlative of eald, ald; see old

Explanation

Someone who's described as eldest in their family was born first. Your eldest sister is the oldest one. Use the adjective eldest when you're describing people in terms of birth order: the oldest is the eldest. Your eldest friend is older than your other friends. You can also use the word as a noun, meaning "firstborn." Your mom might introduce you by saying, "This is my eldest." It's a somewhat formal, old fashioned word, much less popular today than "oldest."

Example Sentences

His second eldest daughter, Kinsey, ran errands and helped with operations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Koc stepped down as chairman of Koc Holding in 2003, handing the reins to his eldest son, Mustafa Koc who died suddenly of a heart attack in 2016.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

And there may be more good news on the way for the president’s eldest son.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

Newhouse’s eldest son, Steven, spearheaded the company’s growth on the internet and on mobile devices.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

I was wrapping up green glass earrings in tissue paper, hoping to make some small peace with my eldest child, while I tried to sponge the fire out of my youngest.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• earlier