quinquagenarian

American  

[kwing-kwuh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, kwin-] / ˌkwɪŋ kwə dʒəˈnɛər i ən, ˌkwɪn- /

adjective

1. 50 years of age.

2. between the ages of 50 and 60.

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noun

1. a person who is 50 years old or whose age is between 50 and 60.

quinquagenarian British  

/ ˌkwɪŋkwədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person between 50 and 59 years old

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adjective

1. being between 50 and 59 years old

2. of or relating to a quinquagenarian

Usage

What does quinquagenarian mean? A quinquagenarian is someone in their 50s (50 to 59 years old), or someone who is 50 years old. Quinquagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 50s, as in I never thought I’d be a quinquagenarian grandmother, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my quinquagenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s). Quinquagenerian is rarely used. Such words are much more commonly used for older people, especially septuagenarians and octogenarians. Example: Today is my last day as a quinquagenarian—tomorrow I begin my 60s!

Etymology

Origin of quinquagenarian

1560–70; < Latin quīnquāgēnāri ( us ) ( quinquagenary ) + -an

Example Sentences

That’s the story of the quinquagenarian Carrie Bradshaw in “And Just Like That …,” the “Sex and the City” sequel series that premiered last year.

From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2022

At the Mosswood Market, Dave Chambers, a quinquagenarian from San Francisco who sells wine, pecked away on his laptop.

From Newsweek • Apr. 12, 2015

Do you know any quinquagenarian or sexagenarian managerial rookies?

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2013

The problem as it presented itself to Lord Henry was rightly: how could this quinquagenarian be given a son whom she could worship?

From Too Old for Dolls A Novel by Ludovici, Anthony M. (Anthony Mario)