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Glite Dictionary
gerontocracy

gerontocracy

1 9.9
A system where older people hold most power in government
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒɛrənˈtɒkrəsi/
  • Formal
: gerontocracia
  • The cacique's power was the basis for a gerontocracy, a society ruled by elder statesmen (Torres-Gil, 1988).
  • the rule of gerontocracy

That's what you call a gerontocracy, literally rule by the agent.

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Examples

  • Traditional societies are, in short, "gerontocracies" in which elders talk and juniors by and large listen.

    Academic text (2000)

  • I have been referring to this as a confirmation of traditional gerontocracy, but something more is going on.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The major obstacle to political reform was gerontocracy.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The United States Supreme Court ought not to become a gerontocracy like the leadership cadre of the Chinese Communist Party.

    Academic text (2006)

  • I've heard that for whatever reason, Italy's government is more or less a gerontocracy, and a big political issue is that anyone under the age of about fifty really has no voice.

    Blog text (8)

  • Resentment is building in both middle-income and poor nations, as the wealthiest nine countries become gerontocracies, while the poorest nations witness the evaporation of previous development gains, rising foreign debts, and increased mortality rates.

    Academic text (2005)

  • In a gerontocracy, the decisions are often influenced more by older leaders than by the younger generation.

  • Many people believe that a gerontocracy limits innovative ideas and the involvement of youth in politics.

  • A gerontocracy typically places older individuals in power, prioritizing their experiences over younger viewpoints.

Surface Forms

gerontocracy singular
gerontocracies plural

Morphology

gerontocracy = geronto + cracy

The meaning 'rule by old people' is compositionally clear from the classical combining forms geronto- and -cracy, but these are not ordinary standalone English words.

Etymology

Gerontocracy comes from Greek parts geron meaning 'old' and -cracy meaning 'rule', the same -cracy you see in democracy. So a gerontocracy is a system where older people hold the power.