nonagenarian

American  

[non-uh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, noh-nuh-] / ˌnɒn ə dʒəˈnɛər i ən, ˌnoʊ nə- /

adjective

1. of the age of 90 years, or between 90 and 100 years old.

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noun

1. a nonagenarian person.

nonagenarian British  

/ ˌnəʊnədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who is from 90 to 99 years old

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting a nonagenarian

Usage

What does nonagenarian mean? A nonagenarian is someone in their 90s (90 to 99 years old), or someone who is 90 years old. Nonagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 90s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of nonagenarian women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my nonagenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and centenarian (100 or older). Example: Today is my last day as a nonagenarian—tomorrow I turn 100!

Etymology

Origin of nonagenarian

1795–1805; < Latin nōnāgēnāri ( us ) containing ninety, consisting of ninety ( nōnāgēn ( ī ) ninety each + -ārius -ary ) + -an

Example Sentences

Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Díaz-Canel stressed that the talks were directed by him and “the historic leader of our revolution,” Raúl Castro, the nonagenarian younger brother of Fidel, who died in 2016.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

If you’re a septua-, octo- or nonagenarian by Spotify’s accounting, you may find yourself in hip company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Raoni Metuktire, the nonagenarian leader of the Kayapo people who rose to fame in the 1980s campaigning against deforestation with British musician Sting, is attending COP30 talks in the Amazon city of Belem.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

The nonagenarian, the world's oldest head of state, won 54% of the vote, compared to the 35% of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, according to the official results.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

A further illustration of his keen sense of humour, even in extreme old age, is found in a letter which, as a nonagenarian, he wrote to a friend some seventy years his junior.

From Garcia the Centenarian And His Times Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science by Mackinlay, M. (Malcolm) Sterling