elderly

1 of 3

adjective

el·​der·​ly ˈel-dər-lē 

1

a

: rather old

especially : being past middle age

b

: old-fashioned

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of later life or elderly persons

elderliness noun

elderly

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural elderly or elderlies

: an elderly person

elderliness

3 of 3

noun (2)

el·​der·​li·​ness

ˈeldə(r)lēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being elderly

Synonyms of elderly

Adjective

• older
• aging
• aged
• old

Examples of elderly in a Sentence

Adjective

The program is intended to provide medical care for elderly people.

elderly people who stay active are usually the healthiest and the happiest

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Victim Jonathan McKinsey’s elderly in-laws are suspected of gunning down the 40-year-old director of engineering for the New York Times Games section. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Shown from above, the camera steadily encroaching like the angel of death itself, is an elderly woman in a hospital bed. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Wilver Blanco, 42, was shot in 2024 after police responded to a report of man seen chasing an elderly man around with a knife, possibly while under the influence of drugs. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Earlier that day, at a different campaign event about 90 miles east in Canfield, a man carrying two handguns, brass knuckles, and a Taser had barreled toward Acton while yelling her name, knocking over an elderly couple in the crowd. — Sarah Todd, STAT, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (1)

1819, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing elderly

• the elderly

Kids Definition

elderly

adjective

el·​der·​ly

ˈel-dər-lē

1

: rather old

especially : past middle age

2

: of or relating to later life or elderly persons

elderliness noun