pensioner

noun

pen·​sion·​er ˈpen(t)-sh(ə-)nər 

1

: a person who receives or lives on a pension

2

obsolete

a

: one of a military corps of 40 gentlemen who attend the British sovereign on state occasions

b

: retainer

c

: mercenary, hireling

Examples of pensioner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But another 2025 law, the Social Security Fairness Act, provided certain public pensioners with higher monthly Social Security payments and retroactive lump sum payments. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026

The processing plant provides part-time employment for many islanders, most of them pensioners who tail and pack lobsters. —NPR, 4 Apr. 2026

The Royal Maundy Service is held each year on the Thursday before Easter as a tradition in which the British sovereign distributes Maundy money, or special coins, to local pensioners, who are often retirees, in a tribute in homage to how Jesus washed the Apostles' feet at the Last Supper. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026

Semi Salmi, a pensioner who was out for a swim at a pool with cold sea water in Helsinki, echoed that sentiment. —Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pension entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pensioner

noun

pen·​sion·​er ˈpench-(ə-)nər 

: a person who receives or lives on a pension