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

Through a mix of orders, shaming, and a whole lot of banging of the gavel, the octogenarian managed to avoid a nightmare scenario of one of his colleagues pummeling a witness. —Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026

Or the working-class octogenarian whose last wish is to see a World Cup game? —Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026

The doctors at Daso include an octogenarian who once mistook fat for an appendix and other doctors whose board certifications appear to be overstated. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026

The assassination of Khamenei, an octogenarian whose ideology considers martyrdom a religious reward, has galvanized his supporters. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for octogenarian

• authoritarian
• communitarian
• disciplinarian
• egalitarian
• equalitarian
• humanitarian
• majoritarian
• parliamentarian
• radiolarian
• totalitarian
• utilitarian
• agrarian

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