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
While the main action of this novel pertains to young love and teen pregnancy, it’s narrated—in the plural first person—by the elder mothers of the church.
—
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Best guess connects to NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports — the elder Kelce brother spent the weekend on a pit crew at Talladega for driver Corey Day, who won the race.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
And the elder Seymour, a slight man, did not sit on the sidelines.
—Andre Mouchard, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
As the elder daughter of King George V’s second son, Elizabeth was expected to live the life of a minor royal.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
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.
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Best guess connects to NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports — the elder Kelce brother spent the weekend on a pit crew at Talladega for driver Corey Day, who won the race.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
And the elder Seymour, a slight man, did not sit on the sidelines.
—Andre Mouchard, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
As the elder daughter of King George V’s second son, Elizabeth was expected to live the life of a minor royal.
—ABC News, 21 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 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
