elderly

1 of 2

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 2

noun

plural elderly or elderlies

: an elderly person

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

One of them was a plan by Newsom to put a $2,000 assets limit on low-income elderly people receiving Medi-Cal, which also did not make it into Friday’s agreement. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026

Power cuts as a result of the earthquakes meant some elderly people were trapped in their apartments and with cell service down, people couldn’t communicate with their relatives, Baker told Reuters news agency from his home in the Los Palos Grandes area. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

An elderly couple who live in the home was not injured, authorities said. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 26 June 2026

His elderly father, who spent a lifetime in the industry, still carried those concerns. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

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