- comparative of old.
older
Americanadjective
adjective
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the comparative of old
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Also (of people, esp members of the same family): elder. having lived or existed longer; of greater age
Synonym Usage
Older, elder imply having greater age than something or someone else. Older is the usual form of the comparative of old: This building is older than that one. Elder, now greatly restricted in application, is used chiefly to indicate seniority in age as between any two people but especially priority of birth as between children born of the same parents: The elder brother became king.
Explanation
An older person is a senior citizen or someone who's been around long enough that they're not considered "young." If you want to check out some older people, take part in the early bird special at your local diner. You can use the adjective older to describe elderly folks (like your older neighbors who don't drive at night any more) or a person who was born first: "Her older sister was much bossier than her younger sister." You can also use older to talk about things that have been around longer, like older songs or older cars, as opposed to newer things.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Older women face a lower chance of fertility treatment working, even when using young donor eggs - with a marked drop-off from around the age of 49, new research suggests.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Older adults, young children, outdoor workers and those with underlying health conditions face the greatest risk of heat-related illness.
From Salon • Jul. 3, 2026
Not only were the images ageist and stereotypical, but they also got a key fact about entrepreneurship wrong: Older business creators are more successful than younger ones, research shows.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
Older generations might find it grating and simplistic, at least initially.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Older trainees sat in risers and held banners representing each Paragon.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
