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
For older adults with family support, these kinds of decisions are often the focus of ongoing discussions about what is the best path for the elder.
—
Sara Zeff Geber, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The ritual still began with the elder, but by the end, every hand had touched the bowl.
—Sara Hussain, Vogue, 22 May 2025
Family is typically the source of unpaid caregiving when the elder in need does not go to another living environment.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Among them is the club’s busboy singer Ibrahim (Mel Seme as the elder, Wesley Wray as his younger self); guitarist-singer Compay (Julio Monge and Da’von T. Moody); and pianist Ruben (Jainardo Batista Sterling and Leonardo Reyna).
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the elder
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sara Zeff Geber, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The ritual still began with the elder, but by the end, every hand had touched the bowl.
—Sara Hussain, Vogue, 22 May 2025
Family is typically the source of unpaid caregiving when the elder in need does not go to another living environment.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Among them is the club’s busboy singer Ibrahim (Mel Seme as the elder, Wesley Wray as his younger self); guitarist-singer Compay (Julio Monge and Da’von T. Moody); and pianist Ruben (Jainardo Batista Sterling and Leonardo Reyna).
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 20 Mar. 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 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share