pensioner

American  

[pen-shuh-ner] / ˈpɛn ʃə nər /

noun

• pensioners
  plural

1. a person who receives or lives on a pension.

2. a person who works only for pay without regard to the value of the work; a hireling.

3. a student at Cambridge University who pays the cost to dine in the commons and other expenses, and is not supported by any foundation.

4. Obsolete. a gentleman-at-arms.

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pensioner British  

/ ˈpɛnʃənə /

noun

1. a person who is receiving a pension, esp an old-age pension from the state

2. a person dependent on the pay or bounty of another

3. obsolete another name for gentleman-at-arms

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpensioner
  noun
• pensionership
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pensioners
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of pensioner

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Anglo-French; pension, + -er ² ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pensioner pensioners

Later, a video of a pensioner being forcibly evicted from her home went viral and sparked street protests.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

"That's why I'm going to vote," the Parisian pensioner told AFP, noting that the last time she cast a ballot in Israel was in 1973.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Another pensioner, Lorraine Stevenson, said she was already limiting energy use where possible.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Maureen Sloan said, as a pensioner on a fixed income, her outgoings on the basics including utilities and rent meant she was left with very little else to spend each month.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The final addition to the regular group at the farm was Mr. Jelliman, an amiable white pensioner and old friend of the movement who became the farm foreman.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Protests have rippled across the South American nation after the takeover of Ueno Bank on Tuesday left millions of depositors, including pensioners, without access to their money.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

But, outside of being born just a week or so apart before or after the 1933 deadline, little separated the Welsh pensioners his team analyzed.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

More specific details, including how many pensioners this will affect, have yet to be confirmed by the Treasury.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

During the crisis, funds’ collective assets relative to their promises to pensioners cratered from 93% to 63%, according to the Equable Institute, a nonprofit that researches pensions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The old men, pensioners on their families, were made to run errands and mind babies, the only work left for old worn-out men in Williamsburg.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

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Related Words

• beneficiary
• dependent

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