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 East Hartford Democrat turned 78 last month as millions of Americans have become uneasy with the gerontocracy holding high offices in the nation’s government. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

However, in September 2025, Nepal’s restive Gen Z population shocked the world (and the country’s gerontocracy) by taking to the streets to demand change. — Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

But his explanation for the causes of America’s gerontocracy is less convincing. — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

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

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