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elderly

elderly

68 2.0
A group of people who are past middle age
  • noun
  • /ˈɛldərli/
translation icon : personas mayores
  • So for better, for worse, there's simply never been more elderly people living on planet Earth.
  • care for the elderly
  • caregivers for the elderly
  • falls among the elderly

Most of them are the elderly, women and children.

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Examples

Synonyms

senior
vselderly
203 2.7

A person who is older than another person

refers to the whole group of people advanced in years regardless of comparison
old person
vselderly
175 1.0

A person who is much older than most adults

refers to the group rather than an individual of that life stage
senior citizen
vselderly
62 2.0

An older person who is usually retired and often over 60 years old

is the general group term not tied to specific ages or retirement
older adult
vselderly
11 1.7

A person in the later years of life

refers to the whole group rather than single individuals
aged
vselderly
  • Archaic
3 1.8

Old people considered as a group

is more common and slightly less formal for the same group
oldster
vselderly
  • Informal
3 7.6

A person who is clearly past middle age

uses neutral group language without implying visible years or tone
the olds
vselderly
  • Informal
1 9.1

People who have lived a long time

is the neutral, more acceptable name used in wider contexts
oldtimer
vselderly
1 5.1

A person who has done a job or activity for many years and knows it well

refers to the years-based group itself rather than experience or role
golden ager
vselderly
  • Archaic
6.8

A person who is older and usually retired

focuses on the whole group without retirement or lifestyle nuance

Antonyms

1.0

Not old and in an early stage of life

104 1.1

The state of being young and full of energy

How Old

centenarian
6 7.2
elderly
68 2.0
mid-fifties
1 3.0
adolescent
50 3.4
youth
515 1.0

Surface Forms

elderly singular
elderlies plural

Morphology

elderly = elderly (transparent) = elder + ly

The noun use is a straightforward conversion of the adjective 'elderly' to mean elderly people.

Etymology

Elderly is also used as a name for a group of older people and comes from elder, which means 'older'. So when we say 'the elderly' we mean 'the older people'.