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
In the elder’s tale, high-achieving loner Devon (Sandler) heads to college hopeful of finally making the friends that eluded her in high school.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Superman alum Victor DiMattia joined The Sandlot as Timmy Timmons, the elder of the Timmons brothers.
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Julian’s shambling charm wears her down, the elder statesman challenging his younger peer’s view on their industry.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors said Ebert and the elder Yates exchanged words after the suspect blew his horn and shouted obscenities at the septuagenarian victim’s daughter and son-in-law while in the driveway of a residential property.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the elder
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Superman alum Victor DiMattia joined The Sandlot as Timmy Timmons, the elder of the Timmons brothers.
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Julian’s shambling charm wears her down, the elder statesman challenging his younger peer’s view on their industry.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors said Ebert and the elder Yates exchanged words after the suspect blew his horn and shouted obscenities at the septuagenarian victim’s daughter and son-in-law while in the driveway of a residential property.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the elder
Cite this Entry
“The elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20elder. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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