senescent

adjective

se·​nes·​cent si-ˈne-sᵊnt 

: relating to, characterized by, or associated with the state of being old or the process of aging : marked by or undergoing senescence

senescent foliage

The "sandwich generation"—caught between adolescent children and senescent parents …

—The Economist

… researchers have opened up a novel approach to combating the effects of aging with the discovery that a special category of cells, known as senescent cells, are bad actors that promote the aging of the tissues.

—Nicholas Wade

Examples of senescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In mice, eliminating senescent cells can improve many features of aging. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Some cells even grow senescent, forgetting how to replicate at all. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

In Coconut Grove, Martin and Terra built or co-developed three big high-rise luxury condo projects — seven towers in all — that, while controversial among many residents, helped resuscitate what had been a senescent village center. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026

Zombie cells are senescent cells, which are cells that are technically alive but in growth arrest due to a variety of stressors, including oxidative stress and DNA damage. — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin senēscent-, senēscens, present participle of senēscere "to grow old, age, deteriorate, slacken off, be in decline," from sen-, senex "old, aged, old man" + -ēsc-, suffix of inchoative verbs — more at senior entry 2

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for senescent

• depressant
• fluorescent
• incessant
• putrescent
• quiescent
• suppressant
• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent

Medical Definition

senescent

adjective

se·​nes·​cent si-ˈnes-ᵊnt 

: relating to, characterized by, undergoing, or associated with senescence

Senescent cells secrete a variety of factors but scientists still do not fully understand the role senescent cells play in many physiological processes …

—Science

During ageing, molecular chaperones such as heat-shock proteins are thought to combat stress-related senescent dysfunction.

—Marc Tatar et al., Nature