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.
"We thought it was a beautiful place to retire," says the septuagenarian, who used to manage a large building-supply store in neighboring New Jersey.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
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 long-time friendship with ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
What would Passover be without our neighbor Arnold, the septuagenarian art-house movie-theater owner who regularly invites our son over for age-appropriate “cappuccinos,” aka hot chocolate?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
That summer and fall, Bobby also spent time playing against his grandfather’s septuagenarian cousin Jacob Schonberg, who also lived in Brooklyn.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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