elder

1 of 3

noun (1)

el·​der ˈel-dər 

: elderberry sense 2

elder

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of earlier birth or greater age

his elder brother

2

: of or relating to earlier times : former

3

archaic : of or relating to a more advanced time of life

4

: prior or superior in rank, office, or validity

elder

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: one living in an earlier period

2

a

: one who is older : senior

a child trying to please her elders

b

: an aged person

3

: one having authority by virtue of age and experience

the village elders

4

: any of various officers of religious groups: such as

a

: presbyter sense 1

b

: a permanent officer elected by a Presbyterian congregation and ordained to serve on the session and assist the pastor at communion

c

: minister sense 2

d

: a leader of the Shakers

e

: a Mormon ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood

eldership

ˈel-dər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• ancient
• geriatric
• golden-ager
• old-timer
• oldster
• senior
• senior citizen

Examples of elder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On the first day of shooting, the Oscar-winning filmmaker had an elder of the nation come to say a prayer for the cast and crew. —Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023

Meanwhile, on this continent, Native Americans cherished their elders as sources of wisdom and decision making. —Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023

But, like Orwell, Ross put himself through tests that his own elders weren’t demanding of him. —Jim Sleeper, The New Republic, 4 Sep. 2023

Indeed, since there appears to be little public appetite for sacrificing our children’s futures upon the altar of their elders’ anxiety, what purpose does the Times’ warning serve other than as an ultimatum to the nation’s parents? —The Editors, National Review, 31 Aug. 2023

Other music genres hold their elders in a different regard. —Spin Staff, Spin, 31 Aug. 2023

These elders understood the difficulty of enduring everyday activities that others took for granted. —Lexi Pandell, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023

These moments are touch points that connect us to our ancestors and elders, mirroring the contemporary landscape of Black life. —Francesca Marani, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2023

The Samburu elder walked them hours more to a meeting place where they could be picked up by a ranger. —WSJ, 26 Aug. 2023

Adjective

Because of a shortage of elder-care infrastructure and workers, many of them will face the disease with far too little support. —Marion Renault, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2022

In 1988, Rinke's elder brother and two other pilots died when their training flight crashed just after takeoff at what was then Oakland-Pontiac Airport in Waterford. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2022

In October 2021, Representative John Larsen (D–CT) introduced a comprehensive plan to save Social Security and eliminate elder poverty. —Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English eldre, from Old English ellærn; perhaps akin to Old English alor alder — more at alder

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English ieldra, comparative of eald old

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elder

• box elder
• elder care
• marsh elder
• elder statesman
• the elder

• box elder
• elder care
• marsh elder
• elder statesman
• the elder

Kids Definition

elder

1 of 3 noun

el·​der ˈel-dər 

: elderberry sense 2

elder

2 of 3 adjective

: of greater age

the elder cousin

elder

3 of 3 noun

1

: one who is older : senior

2

: a person having authority because of age and experience

the village elders

3

: any of various church officers

eldership

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

Noun

Old English ellærn "elder tree"

Adjective

Old English ieldra, comparative form of eald "old"

Medical Definition

elder

noun

el·​der ˈel-dər 

: elderberry sense 2