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
Livestream From Hell is an indicator that the elder of the group is a man of his word.
—
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025
As Eddie will tell you, this bourbon is much too old for Jimmy’s tastes—the elder Russell doesn’t much care for whiskey over 10 years old.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
His parents, the elder Jose Padilla and Angelica Galvan, started serving dishes at 3009 Independence Ave.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
When Marcos declared martial law in 1972, the elder Araneta, a prominent backer of the opposing Liberal Party, fled to New York.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the elder
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Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 30 Sep. 2025
As Eddie will tell you, this bourbon is much too old for Jimmy’s tastes—the elder Russell doesn’t much care for whiskey over 10 years old.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
His parents, the elder Jose Padilla and Angelica Galvan, started serving dishes at 3009 Independence Ave.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
When Marcos declared martial law in 1972, the elder Araneta, a prominent backer of the opposing Liberal Party, fled to New York.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
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 2 Oct. 2025.
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