senile
Americanadjective
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showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning, especially short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease.
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of or belonging to old age or aged persons; gerontological; geriatric.
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Physical Geography. (of topographical features) having been reduced by erosion to a featureless plain that stands everywhere at base level.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of old age
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mentally or physically weak or infirm on account of old age
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(of land forms or rivers) at an advanced stage in the cycle of erosion See old
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of senile
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin senīlis “old,” from sen(ex) “old man” ( cf. senior) + -īlis -ile
Explanation
The word senile describes a person who is experiencing dementia brought about by old age — in other words, someone showing signs of senility. Senile can refer to a loss of physical abilities in old age, but it usually refers to decreased memory and mental faculties. Getting senile is a very serious condition, as an older person might have trouble remembering who their own children are. Many people in nursing homes are senile, because their families aren't able to provide proper care. Of course, people forget things at every age. If you're 10 or 40 and have a bad memory, you're not going senile.
Vocabulary lists containing senile
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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50 Great Words from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
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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.
The 75-year old Krupp was supposed to be tried alongside Schacht, but had become senile and was deemed medically unfit.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2025
I asked him about that moment just after it happened, and had asked him whether the president was senile the day before.
From BBC • Jul. 22, 2024
Especially if a person seems to go senile very quickly, check their vitamin B12!
From Seattle Times • Apr. 17, 2024
She has no choice but to carry this pregnancy to term, surrounded by jealous novitiates, senile nuns, controlling male leadership and a secret sect of the sisterhood who wear crimson shrouds over their faces.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2024
I was uncertain if this referred to Bud or to a literal blue jay, or if, perhaps, we were heading into the territory of senile dementia.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
