gerontocracy

[jer-uhn-tok-ruh-see, jeer-]

noun

plural

gerontocracies 

1. government by a council of elders.

2. a governing body consisting of old people.

3. a state or government in which old people rule.

gerontocracy

/ dʒəˌrɒntəˈkrætɪk, ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by old people

2. a governing body of old people

gerontocracy

1. A society ruled by elders.

Other Word Forms

• gerontocratic adjective
• gerontocrat noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerontocracy¹

First recorded in 1820–30; geronto- + -cracy

Example Sentences

Despite the widespread criticism, few serious solutions have been proposed to tackle the country's gerontocracy.

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“We may end up remembering 2024 as the year the gerontocracy voted itself out of office,” said the New Republic.

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Senate, the gerontocracy remains alive and well — and little commented upon.

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Only Ms. Porter, who just turned 50, referred to it directly, but the balance between experienced representation and gerontocracy was a clear subtext.

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Maybe the gerontocracy was yielding, and America-2 was turning a new page.

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