elder

1 of 3

noun (1)

el·​der ˈel-dər How to pronounce elder (audio)

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
b
: a permanent officer elected by a Presbyterian congregation and ordained to serve on the session and assist the pastor at communion
d
: a leader of the Shakers
e
: a Mormon ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood
eldership noun

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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of elder was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near elder

Cite this Entry

“Elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elder. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

elder

1 of 3 noun
el·​der ˈel-dər How to pronounce elder (audio)

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 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 How to pronounce elder (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on elder

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