elder

1 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: one who is older : senior

a child trying to please her elders

b

: an aged person

2

: one having authority by virtue of age and experience

the village elders

3

: 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 Latter-day Saint ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood

4

: one living in an earlier period

eldership

ˈel-dər-ˌship 

noun

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)

el·​der ˈel-dər 

: elderberry sense 2

Synonyms of elder

Noun (1)

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

Examples of elder in a Sentence

Noun (1)

in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect

as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do

it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders

as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The driver was arrested on suspicion of financial elder abuse, attempted grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and fraud. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026

The Trust, supported by a 1 percent food-and-beverage restaurant tax, used it as a quarantine site for homeless elders imperiled by COVID. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Alja, who works at an elder care facility, is a bit too eager to host the freeloading Maruša. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

One of his elder sisters, Frieda, was participating in a pie-baking contest at school. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective

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

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing elder

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

Rhymes for elder

• welder

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