adjective
elderly
EHL-duh-lee
adjective
1
Old, especially having reached an advanced age.
"They help care for an elderly neighbor who lives alone."
"The elderly couple has been married for over fifty years."
noun
1
Older people considered as a group.
"The clinic offers free flu shots for the elderly."
How to Use Elderly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite, gentle way to describe someone (or people generally) who is old.
When to use it
"Elderly" is considered a more respectful, softer term than "old" when describing people.
Word Forms
more elderly comparative, elderlies plural, most elderly superlative
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They help care for an _____ neighbor who lives alone.
Etymology
Formed from elder plus the adjective-forming suffix -ly.