geriatric

[jer-ee-a-trik, jeer-]

adjective

1. of or relating to geriatrics or old age.

   the hospital's geriatric ward.

2. noting or relating to aged people or animals: a geriatric pet.

   geriatric patients;

   a geriatric pet.

3. old, outmoded, or worn out by long use.

   The company is suffering from geriatric factories and manufacturing technologies.

noun

1. Often Offensive.,  an aged person.

geriatric

/ ˌdʒɛrɪˈætrɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to geriatric medicine or to older people

2. offensive,  (of people or machines) old, obsolescent, worn out, or useless

noun

1. old-fashioned,  an elderly person

2. informal,  an older person considered as one who may be disregarded as senile or unable to look after his or her own best interests

Word History and Origins

Origin of geriatric¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from Greek gér(ōn) “old man” + iatric ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of geriatric¹

C20: from Greek gēras old age + _iatric

Example Sentences

Well now if you are 35 and over, they call it a geriatric pregnancy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The pattern is clear: local government failed us on January 7 and continues to fail us,” said Jessica Rogers, president of the Pacific Palisades Resident Assn. and a geriatric social worker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She recalled seeing a geriatric House member hobbling on a cane and telling a colleague, “It’s never going to be me. I’m not staying around that long.”

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Do not be fooled by suggestions Australia have unveiled a list of geriatrics, ready to shuffle off to a cricketing retirement home, tending the garden in their baggy green caps.

Read more on BBC

And while she wasn’t much of an exerciser when I was growing up in Philadelphia, she now considers herself a “geriatric jock.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aged 
• ancient 
• decrepit 
• elderly 
• gray 
• mature 
• tired 
• venerable 

When To Use

What does geriatric mean?

Geriatric is an adjective that means relating to old age or the care of aged people.A common use of geriatric is in the phrase geriatric medicine (also called geriatrics), which is the branch of medicine dealing with the care of aged persons.Although geriatric was once used in the medical field as a noun meaning an older person, that use is now considered offensive. It is also considered offensive when used as an adjective to describe a thing (such as a machine) that’s worn out or useless.Example: Since older people face unique health risks, it’s important for them to see doctors who specialize in treating geriatric patients.