octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən How to pronounce octogenarian (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As an octogenarian, she was followed on social media by Rihanna and rubbed shoulders with Gwen Stefani. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025 Rather than young school children, our heroes are octogenarians living in a rather upmarket retirement home (the fictitious Coopers Chase). Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 Months away from becoming an octogenarian, Neil Young remains as spunky, fearless and outspoken as any major artist of his generation — let alone those who followed. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 When Francis Ford Coppola finally went into production on Megalopolis, the project carried the weight of decades of anticipation and the air of a high-wire act undertaken by a beloved, daredevil octogenarian. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for octogenarian

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of octogenarian was in 1815

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Cite this Entry

“Octogenarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octogenarian. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

octogenarian

noun
oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən How to pronounce octogenarian (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce octogenarian (audio)
: a person whose age is in the eighties
octogenarian adjective

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