noun
elder
EHL-duh
noun
1
A respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership.
"The village elders met to settle the dispute."
"She was raised to show deep respect for her elders."
2
A small tree or shrub (Sambucus) that produces clusters of white flowers and dark purple berries.
"She made cordial from the elder flowers growing in the hedgerow."
adjective
1
Older than another specified person, especially a sibling.
"His elder brother went to university first."
How to Use Elder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOlder (usually of a family member), or a respected senior figure in a community — plus an unrelated sense referring to a flowering shrub.
Common mistake
Use "elder" (not "older") specifically for family relations like elder brother/sister; "older" works more generally.
Common pairings
elder brother
village elders
elder statesman
Word Forms
eldered past tense, elders plural, elders plural, elders singular
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The village _____ met to settle the dispute.
Etymology
From Old English eldra, the comparative form of "old," altered in spelling by a sound change called umlaut.