nonagenarian

[non-uh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, noh-nuh-]

adjective

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

noun

1. a nonagenarian person.

nonagenarian

/ ˌnəʊnədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

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

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting a nonagenarian

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonagenarian¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonagenarian¹

C19: from Latin nōnāgēnārius, from nōnāginta ninety

Example Sentences

For many, Omara Portuondo is best known for her participation in the Buena Vista Social Club; but the nonagenarian has lived many lives before and after the formation of the internationally recognized Cuban group.

From Los Angeles Times

The nonagenarian nine-letter word seeker had a varied career in the RAF and has worked as a police dog handler, butcher and school site agent.

From BBC

The nonagenarian's leftover fish and chips get fed to the birds.

From BBC

“Thelma” playfully sprinkles “Mission: Impossible”-style action set pieces into the story, appropriately scaled to a nonagenarian’s abilities.

From Los Angeles Times

For President Biden, marking the 90th anniversary of D-Day in France is an opportunity to be commander in chief and statesman while hailing the nonagenarian American veterans who liberated Europe from Nazi Germany.

From New York Times

When To Use

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!