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

Ma, a Chinese and Taiwanese American, grew up playing Taiwanese mah-jongg, and along with his father—the elder Tim Ma—began hosting weekly lessons at his restaurant. — Ashley Parker, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026

Nobody was more impressed than Zyon McCollum, who at 27 is entering his fifth season and is suddenly the elder statesman of the group after Jamel Dean signed with the Steelers as a free agent. — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026

The Athletic has detailed Everton’s interest in Ivory Coast international Doue, the elder brother of Paris Saint-Germain star Desire Doue, over the past 12 months. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 10 June 2026

In the 1990s, the elder Browder moved to Russia and managed the Hermitage Fund, which became the largest foreign investment fund in the country. — Leigh Kiniry, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Rhymes for the elder

• welder