elderly

1 of 2

adjective

el·​der·​ly ˈel-dər-lē How to pronounce elderly (audio)
Synonyms of elderlynext
1
a
: rather old
especially : being past middle age
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of later life or elderly persons
elderliness noun

elderly

2 of 2

noun

plural elderly or elderlies
: an elderly person

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
While Simmons' wife and son safely escaped the house and told police about his history of mental illness, an elderly couple remained trapped on the floor above, Tisch said. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 Listeria is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, or others with weakened immune systems. Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 June 2026 But an elderly couple in a second floor apartment, however, were unable to leave. Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026 Simmons' wife and son were able to safely evacuate, but an elderly couple was unable to exit. Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elderly

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elderly was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elderly. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on elderly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster