octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is in the eighties

The octogenarian uses a cane for walking.

octogenarian adjective

Examples of octogenarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s been a rough month for octogenarians committed to staying onstage in the U.S. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2024

The latest example is the horde of Democratic lawmakers begging Biden to step aside for the crime of becoming an octogenarian. —Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 11 July 2024

Biden, following in Franklin’s footsteps, is a remarkably active octogenarian. —Ezekiel J. Emanuel, The Atlantic, 5 July 2024

Undoubtedly, Harris will fare better than a moribund octogenarian. —The Editors, National Review, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin octogenarius containing eighty, from octogeni eighty each, from octoginta eighty, from octo eight + -ginta (akin to viginti twenty) — more at vigesimal

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is between 80 and 89

Medical Definition

octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is in the eighties

octogenarian adjective