septuagenarian
Americanadjective
noun
noun
adjective
-
being between 70 and 79 years old
-
of or relating to a septuagenarian
Usage
What does septuagenarian mean? A septuagenarian is someone in their 70s (70 to 79 years old), or someone who is 70 years old. Septuagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 70s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of septuagenarian women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my septuagenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s). Such words are more commonly used as people get older: quadragenarian and quinquagenarian are rarely used, but septuagenarian and octogenarian are more commonly used. Another word for septuagenarian is septuagenary. Example: Today is my last day as a septuagenarian—tomorrow I begin my 80s!
Etymology
Origin of septuagenarian
1705–15; < Latin septuāgēnāri ( us ) ( see septuagenary) + -an
Vocabulary lists containing septuagenarian
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.
A balanced portfolio in your mid-70s means allocating 40% to 50% to bonds, if you’re playing your septuagenarian retirement planning by the book.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
The septuagenarian governor has managed to survive sundry political scandals, Mexican observers say, because of a key fact: His longtime friendship with ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the predecessor and mentor of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
This septuagenarian prefers the crime novels of such genre masters as Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Investigators first became suspicious when the septuagenarian ringleader attempted to sell two supposedly original paintings by Picasso on the art market.
From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025
The lawyers finally convinced a judge that a septuagenarian staying at a hotel would not need to loot a store for sausages.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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.
