adjective
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having given up one's work, office, etc, esp on completion of the normal period of service
a retired headmistress
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( as collective noun ; preceded by the )
the retired
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withdrawn; secluded
a retired life
a retired cottage in the woods
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of retired
Explanation
Someone who's retired has stopped working permanently. A retired teacher who misses his job might volunteer at an after-school program. Most retired people in the U.S. are over the age of 65, although some are able to retire earlier, and some continue working well into their 70s or 80s. Some jobs provide pensions, or partial salaries, to retired workers, and other retired people take advantage of government-provided benefits like Social Security. To retire means "to stop working," but also "to retreat or withdraw," and in the 1500s, retired meant "separated or withdrawn from society."
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.
In 2018 he became the first person to climb Mount Everest 22 times, breaking the 21-time record he previously held with two other Nepali Sherpa mountaineers, who then retired.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Some legendary athletes, like Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax, retired at the peak of their careers.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
Given the ongoing geopolitical reality, ending Washington's military alliance completely would significantly harm Israel's national security, Israel defence expert and retired Colonel Adi Bershadsky told AFP.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
“This is really a seminal, critical trial that’s going to affect society,” the 73-year-old Jackson, a retired sketch artist.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
Though officially retired, Leah’s presence at séances was missed by her former clients; still her commitment to the cause continued.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
