gerontocracy

noun

ger·​on·​toc·​ra·​cy ˌjer-ən-ˈtä-krə-sē 

plural gerontocracies

1

: government or control (as of a nation or organization) by people who are old

… a world … dogged by gerontocracy, one where the levers of political and economic power are firmly in the hands of unmovable boomers …

—Gian M. Volpicelli

2

: one that is governed or controlled by a gerontocracy

… the Vatican remains a gerontocracy where leadership is reserved for the elders …

—Martina Devlin

3

: the people who govern or control in a gerontocracy

… represents a diverse and disproportionately young coalition of voters but is led by a largely white gerontocracy.

—Andrew O'Hehir

gerontocrat

jə-ˈrän-tə-ˌkrat 

noun

gerontocratic

jə-ˌrän-tə-ˈkra-tik 

adjective

Examples of gerontocracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The end of gerontocracy depends on making retirement great as a necessary part of an intentional social project of rejuvenation. —Literary Hub, 18 June 2026

Samuel joins me now to talk about his new book and what studying gerontocracy might teach us. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Is gerontocracy the right diagnosis for what ails us? —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

Despite a popular leader in Kemi Badenoch, the traditional Conservative Party increasingly is seen as a gerontocracy appealing only to the aged. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French gérontocratie, from géronto- geronto- + -cratie -cracy

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gerontocracy

• aristocracy
• meritocracy
• autocracy
• bureaucracy
• democracy
• hypocrisy
• plutocracy
• theocracy