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

Even today, after having been vaccinated, I regard it as the best mode of travel for a nonagenarian.

From Washington Post

A few years back, they got paroled and went to Mountain View to tend to their nonagenarian mother.

From Vox

Many a young man of to-day has done more and felt more than a peaceful, stationary nonagenarian of yesterday's rural life.

From Project Gutenberg

Biographical sketches of every Tennessee nonagenarian and centenarian Negro.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not hard to understand the feeling, never less called for than it was in the case of that beloved nonagenarian.

From Project Gutenberg

In that year died the nonagenarian Antonius Stradivarius, the greatest violin-maker the world has ever seen.

From Project Gutenberg

I received a postal card the other day from Clay, who is now a nonagenarian, in his armed castle in Kentucky.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Nonagenarian

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!

Where does nonagenarian come from?

The first records of the word nonagenarian come from around 1800. It comes from the Latin word nōnāgēnāri(us), meaning “containing ninety,” from nōnāginta, “ninety.” The suffix -an is used to indicate a person (as seen in common words like pedestrian and historian).

It’s more common to refer to someone as a 90-year-old or describe them as in their 90s or 90-something than to call them a nonagenarian. But nonagenarian is used as a fancy or fun way of referring to someone of that age, including by nonagenarians who apply it to themselves. As much fun as it is to say, it’s perhaps more often used in writing. It’s often used in the context of highlighting a person who’s doing something that may be surprising for their age, as in That nonagenarian marathon runner is amazing.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for nonagenarian?

• 90-year-old
• ninety-year-old
• 90-something
• ninety-something

What are some words that share a root or word element with nonagenarian? 

• nonagon
• quadragenarian
• quinquagenarian
• sexagenarian
• septuagenarian
• octogenarian
• centenarian

What are some words that often get used in discussing nonagenarian?

• ninety
• age
• year
• old
• decade
• life
• birthday
• milestone

How is nonagenarian used in real life?

Nonagenarian is often used to be fancy or funny when referring to 90-somethings.

Interviewed a 90-yr-old man yesterday. Sat on his porch in the rural #South. At one point he laughed and said: "I like to talk to young whippersnappers.” Thoughts: 1) I am young to nonagenarians 2) I have never snapped a whip. 3) Reporting can be a lot of fun. #Journalism pic.twitter.com/NNBFbpFFaX

— Cameron McWhirter (@cammcwhirter) October 29, 2019

Nonagenarian chums #MelBrooks #CarlReiner #DickVanDyke. So sad to hear of the passing of #CarlReiner at the age of 98. This shoot of these three comedy legends has been a highlight of my 30 year career. RIP Carl. pic.twitter.com/z865evMwfA

— Andy Gotts (@DrGotts) June 30, 2020

My older mother and 90-something granddad haaaaaated my low-to-the-ground civic SI. I packed another nonagenarian in and out of that car – also not easy. Higher seems preferable

— Kate Crane (@cratekane) July 20, 2020

 

 

Try using nonagenarian!

Is nonagenarian used correctly in the following sentence?

I can’t believe I’m nearing my nonagenarian years—40 seems like yesterday.