geriatric
12 synonyms for geriatric, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age.
“She works in the geriatric ward of the hospital.”
How to use geriatric
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
geriatric medicine
geriatric ward
geriatric patient
As a noun for a person, it can sound rude or dismissive — it is normally used as an adjective in medical contexts.
Etymology
Built from Ancient Greek gêras ("old age") plus the ending -iatric, seen also in "paediatric."
Full origin of geriatric →Frequently asked questions
What does “geriatric” mean?
The word “geriatric” means relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age. In plain terms, to do with old age or the health needs of older people.
How do you pronounce “geriatric”?
“Geriatric” is pronounced jehr-ee-AT-rihk (/ˌdʒɛɹ.iˈæt.ɹɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “geriatric” in a sentence?
Here is “geriatric” used in a sentence: “She works in the geriatric ward of the hospital.”
What part of speech is “geriatric”?
Depending on how it is used, “geriatric” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “geriatric” come from?
The word “geriatric” comes from Ancient Greek. Built from Ancient Greek gêras ("old age") plus the ending -iatric, seen also in "paediatric.".
How many meanings does “geriatric” have?
“Geriatric” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age.
