senior moment

American

noun

Often Facetious.

a brief lapse in memory or a moment of confusion, especially in an older person.

senior moment British

noun

humorous a lapse of memory common in elderly people

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of senior moment

1995–2000; senior (citizen) + moment

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 second is that he was having a senior moment — and thought he was still coaching the Jets.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2021

When Adam Nagourney filed his dispatch for the Times 23 years ago from Los Angeles, the story of Dole’s senior moment in California would still be unknown to almost all.

From Fox News • Mar. 13, 2019

I even took a slight exception to the secondary title for your article: "These stars deserve their senior moment."

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2016

I had a little senior moment, told her she could do it, forgot there was another group behind me that was still playing.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 27, 2015

Was I having a senior moment or wasn’t that gap formerly filled with trees?

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2014

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023