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

The goal was to raise funds for the two eldest Osmond siblings, Virl and Tom, who were born with severe hearing loss and needed pricey, specialized education and hearing aids.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Related: My former mother-in-law took out a life-insurance policy on my eldest child.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

The eldest daughter of a single mother, she helped raise her three younger sisters and dropped out of high school to pursue an early career in fashion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Born May 4, 1937, in Houston, the eldest of four children, Edwards grew up surrounded by racial segregation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Being the eldest, he always looks out for the family.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• earlier