geriatric

noun ge·ri·at·ric \ ˌjer-ē-ˈa-trik , ˌjir- \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of geriatric

1 geriatrics play \ˌjer-ē-ˈa-triks, ˌjir-\ plural in form but singular in construction : a branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and the medical care and treatment of aging people

An old family member is often the inspiration for medical students who choose geriatrics.
—Katie Hafner

— compare gerontology

2 : an aged person

To put it mildly, the geriatrics of the entertainment industry didn't see this coming.
—John Perry Barlow

See geriatric defined for English-language learners

Examples of geriatric in a Sentence

most of the clinic's outpatients are geriatrics living on fixed incomes

Recent Examples of geriatric from the Web

Fewer than 1 percent of RNs and fewer than 3 percent of advanced practice RNs are certified in geriatrics, according to the American Geriatric Society.

— alice adams, Houston Chronicle, "Home health care providers face strong demand for services," 9 Mar. 2018
While there is a clear distinction between MCI and dementia, according to Dr. Bruce Troen, chief of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the University at Buffalo Medical School there is a 3-fold increase in risk for dementia among those with MCI.

— joseph frankel, Newsweek, "Exercise to Improve Memory and Slow Dementia, New Recommendations Say," 28 Dec. 2017
Great, so people who sit on the job turn into bedridden geriatrics, while those who stand in the office might as well be eating nothing but double cheeseburgers, or going through a pack a day, or maybe both.

— jay willis, GQ, "Bad News: Now Standing at Work Is Killing You, Too," 17 Sep. 2017
Afterward, two ladies channeling Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher (the film’s infamous wallet-lifting geriatrics) led the way, with a feigned, aged saunter, towards the barn.

— katie calautti, vanityfair.com, "At the Dirty Dancing Lodge, Fans Can Have the Time of Their Lives," 18 Aug. 2017
The Red Hound of Renown, as he was called in some circles, was a consummate fetch dog, a powerful swimmer and, in his later years, a brazen geriatric with a bottomless bucket list.

— greg trotter, chicagotribune.com, "A grief considered: Remembering the 'Red Hound of Renown'," 30 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'geriatric.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Since most medical care is devoted to those over 65, geriatrics, the medical treatment of the elderly, is a highly important specialty. The specific problems of the elderly include physical inactivity and instability, which result from weakness and loss of energy. Weakness of the eyes and ears plays a role, and weakening of the immune system often leads to more disease. All these conditions can be made worse by mental problems, such as declining intellectual activity, declining memory, and depression, which may prevent the patient from taking action to improve his or her condition. But the effects of aging can be greatly relieved by proper care. And the greatest improvement often results when the patient is persuaded to become more physically, mentally, and socially active.

Origin and Etymology of geriatric

see ²geriatric

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1909

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

geriatric

adjective

Definition of geriatric

1 a : of or relating to geriatrics or the process of aging

b : of, relating to, or appropriate for elderly people

the geriatric set

2 a : old, elderly

a geriatric dachshund

b : old and outmoded

geriatric airplanes

See geriatric defined for English-language learners

See geriatric defined for kids

Examples of geriatric in a Sentence

children who think that anyone over the age of 40 is geriatric
went into nursing to work with geriatric patients

Recent Examples of geriatric from the Web

The state has the nation's largest population of older, geriatric prisoners -- about 5,000 overall -- who are expected to die incarcerated.

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Louisiana changed a law to release more sick, old prisoners. Now, there's an effort to undo that," 3 Apr. 2018
The geriatric cat, too, had several medical conditions of his own, including severe dental disease, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and an abnormal liver that may be caused by his hyperthyroid disease.

— brittany britto, baltimoresun.com, "Dundalk resident fosters 26-year-old cat named Thomas," 3 Apr. 2018
Going for an iconic face rather than a skilled musical theater performer to play King Herod, the production settled for a near-immobile Alice Cooper, who was more of a sneering geriatric rocker than a mocking vaudevillian.

— david rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert': TV Review," 2 Apr. 2018
Sound Oasis Glo2Sleep Therapy Mask Everything about the Glo2Sleep Mask is geriatric, from its blatant disregard for aesthetic value to its radical insistence on comfort, evidenced by the inch-thick foam padding pressing into your face.

— brennan kilbane, GQ, "All the New Tech That’s Upgrading Your Sleep Routine," 30 Mar. 2018
The design of the Skipper reads as a bit geriatric, but the wide topline is as summery and breezy as the one on the classic Nantucket slipper that inspired it.

— michael calore, WIRED, "Step Aside, Wool Runners: Allbirds' New Shoes Are Made from Trees," 15 Mar. 2018
The suspect was taken to Bolingbrook Medical Center for a geriatric psychological evaluation.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Burr Ridge police blotter: Nails scattered across resident's driveway," 9 Mar. 2018
Media: Vocativ The heat litigation, first filed four years ago, contended that the lack of air conditioning at the geriatric prison in Navasota was potentially life-threatening for heat-sensitive inmates.

— gabrielle banks, Houston Chronicle, "First load of heat-sensitive inmates returning to Texas prison at center of lawsuit," 21 Feb. 2018
Individual funds can pay for everything from the football team's offensive coordinator to a geriatric-medicine professor.

— david jesse, Detroit Free Press, "University of Michigan pours billions into funds run by contributors’ firms," 12 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of geriatric

Greek gēras old age + English -iatric

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1926

See Words from the same year

geriatric Synonyms

Phrases

long in the tooth, of a certain age;

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

GERIATRIC Defined for English Language Learners

geriatric

noun

Definition of geriatric for English Language Learners

: an old person

geriatric

adjective

Definition of geriatric for English Language Learners

medical : of or relating to the process of growing old and the medical care of old people : of or relating to geriatrics

Medical Dictionary

geriatric

noun ge·ri·at·ric \ ˌjer-ē-ˈa-trik , ˌjir- \

medical Definition of geriatric

1 geriatrics plural but singular in construction : a branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and aging people — compare gerontology

2 : an aged person