quinquagenarian

[ kwing-kwuh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, kwin- ]

adjective

1. 50 years of age.
2. between the ages of 50 and 60.

noun

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

quinquagenarian

/ ˌkwɪŋkwədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person between 50 and 59 years old

adjective

1. being between 50 and 59 years old
2. of or relating to a quinquagenarian

Word History and Origins

Origin of quinquagenarian¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of quinquagenarian¹

C16: from Latin quinquāgēnārius containing fifty, from quinquāgēnī fifty each

Example Sentences

"Monsieur Foullepointe, my dear," says Adolphe, presenting the worthy quinquagenarian.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Quinquagenarian

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!

Where does quinquagenarian come from?

The first records of the word quinquagenarian come from the 1500s, but it wasn’t used to refer to age until the 1800s. It was originally used to refer to a commander of 50 soldiers. It comes from the Latin word quinquāgēnārius, meaning “containing fifty,” from quinquāgēnī, “fifty each.” The suffix -an is used to indicate a person (as seen in common words like pedestrian and historian).

Chances are that you know plenty of quinquagenarians, but you’ve never heard them called that. That’s because it’s much more common to refer to someone as a 50-year-old or describe them as in their 50s or 50-something. When it is used, it’s probably to be funny (perhaps to make someone sound older than they really are) or just to use a fancy word.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for quinquagenarian?

• 50-year-old
• fifty-year-old
• 50-something
• fifty-something

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

• quinquagenary
• Quinquagesima
• quadragenarian
• sexagenarian
• septuagenarian
• octogenarian
• nonagenarian
• centenarian

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

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

How is quinquagenarian used in real life?

Quinquagenarian is not commonly used. When it is, it’s typically to be funny or for the sake of using a rare word.

Quinquagenarian @joanjett makes a pitch for the youth vote. http://t.co/Id6M2ofgCk

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) November 2, 2014

A Filipina quinquagenarian from Cebu was hailed Mrs. Grandma Universe 2017 in Bulgaria. https://t.co/cvVkrsPZcB pic.twitter.com/zdnmP2cp3O

— GMA News (@gmanews) February 2, 2017

NEW POD – sprightly sexagenarian @simonmayo and @KermodeMovie (still a slip of a quinquagenarian) with Cate Blanchett and @jackblack (mere quadragenarians), @housewithaclock, @TLS_film, @ASimpleFavor and more. DOWNLOAD and SUBSCRIBE: https://t.co/zDeHSXKxNW

— Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (@wittertainment) September 21, 2018

 

 

Try using quinquagenarian!

Is quinquagenarian used correctly in the following sentence?

Somehow, he became a quinquagenarian great-uncle!