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Definition of elderly adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    elderly

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//ˈɛldərli//
     
     
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  1. 1(of people) used as a polite word for‘old’ an elderly couple elderly relatives Thesaurusold
    • elderly
    • aged
    • long-lived
    • mature
    These words all describe someone who or something that has lived for a long time or that usually lives for a long time.
    • old having lived for a long time; no longer young:She's getting old—she'll be 75 next year.
    • elderly (somewhat formal) used as a polite word for “old”:He is very busy caring for two elderly relatives.
    • aged (formal) very old:Having aged relatives visiting you can be quite stressful.
    • long-lived having a long life; lasting for a long time:Everyone in my family is exceptionally long-lived.
    • mature used as a polite or humorous way of saying that somene is no longer young:clothes for the mature woman
    Patterns
    • a(n) old/elderly/aged/long-lived/mature man/woman
    • a(n) old/elderly/aged/mature gentleman/lady/couple
  2. 2the elderly noun [plural] people who are old
See elderly in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: elderly

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