septuagenarian

[sep-choo-uh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, -too-, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. of the age of 70 years or between 70 and 80 years old.

noun

1. a septuagenarian person.

septuagenarian

/ ˌsɛptjʊədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who is from 70 to 79 years old

adjective

1. being between 70 and 79 years old

2. of or relating to a septuagenarian

Word History and Origins

Origin of septuagenarian¹

1705–15; < Latin septuāgēnāri ( us ) ( septuagenary ) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of septuagenarian¹

C18: from Latin septuāgēnārius, from septuāgēnī seventy each, from septuāgintā seventy

Example Sentences

At 50, he’s too old to be categorized as a millennial, but still far younger than the septuagenarians and sexagenarians ousted by some of Justice Democrats’ current and former candidates.

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s this remake of this classic sort of procedural of network TV, where she plays a septuagenarian trying to reenter the workforce.

From Los Angeles Times

The 2024 presidential election was a contest in which the octogenarian incumbent had to drop out, but his 60-year-old replacement lost to a late septuagenarian.

From Salon

The septuagenarian actors shot for five days straight from about 4 p.m. to 6 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times

New eyes on the band have elicited a seemingly increased enthusiasm and energy that’s perhaps unexpected from seasoned septuagenarians.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

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!