the elder

noun

1

—used in comparing the ages of two people who are members of the same family

He's the elder of her two brothers.

2

—used to refer to the older of two people (such as a father and son) who have the same name

Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger

Examples of the elder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result of this modernization is quieter performance and greater speed accuracy, while sacrificing just a little of the elder deck’s warmth but absolutely none of its spirit. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026

On July 14th, the elder Sprouse (by 15 minutes) will launch his new weekly podcast, Wildmen. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026

On what would have been the elder Barbara Bush’s birthday, Laura posted a throwback photo that featured her late mother- and father-in-law with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Maine. — Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Pew Research has documented that Millennials — particularly the elder cohort — lead all other generations not just in technology ownership but in behavioral integration of technology into professional life. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Rhymes for the elder

• welder