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

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

But having too few senescent cells is dangerous, because senescence helps block tumors. —Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

QAnon was for senescent boomers; fashwave and Embrace Masculinity clips are millennial-coded. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2025

If the cells were truly senescent, then the medications should both reduce the number of senescent cells and reverse many of the structural DNA changes and gene expression disruptions. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 9 Jan. 2022

Among them, the Okinawa Cellescence Complex, which combines Shikuwasa Lime extract, Noni Juice extract and Shell Ginger, which boasts a 55 percent claim in reduction of aging senescent cell biomarkers. —James Manso, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

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