retiree

American  

[ri-tahy-ree, -tahyuhr-ee] / rɪ taɪˈri, -ˈtaɪər i /

noun

1. a person who has retired from an occupation or profession.

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retiree British  

/ rɪˈtaɪəˌriː /

noun

1. a person who has retired from work

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Etymology

Origin of retiree

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; retire + -ee

Explanation

A retiree is a person who has permanently stopped working. Florida is famous for being a state where many retirees live. That's why Florida has so many golf courses (and nursing homes). Most retirees are 65 or older — they've worked their whole lives, and when they retire, or cease working, they're taking a well-deserved break. Many older people continue to work, instead of becoming retirees. The word retiree comes from retire, which first meant "to retreat," and later "to withdraw to a private place." The suffix -ee is often used in legal terms to mean "initiator of an action."

Example Sentences

I caught the bug not by reading code but by noticing that the output didn’t match how a rational retiree should behave.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

A retiree who depends on portfolio withdrawals to pay the bills might be hard hit.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

The stereotypical British émigré used to be the retiree packing up for sunnier climes in Spain or France.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Overall, the district continues to struggle with declining enrollment and looming pressures to close schools, as well as long-term pension and retiree benefit obligations.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Colin watched in a lock-jawed silence as Hassan furiously stabbed at his breakfast, and later as Hassan slammed the mini-recorder down on the coffee table of some factory retiree who was old-but-not-old-enough-for-the-nursing home.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green

Related Words

• pensioner
• senior