adj
geriatric
jehr-ee-AT-rihk
Geriatric (adj) means relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age. Example: “She works in the geriatric ward of the hospital.”
adj
1
Relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age.
"She works in the geriatric ward of the hospital."
"The clinic offers specialised geriatric care for patients over eighty."
noun
1
An elderly person (informal, and can sound dismissive).
"He joked about becoming a geriatric once he turned fifty."
How to use geriatric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with old age or the health needs of older people.
When to use it
As a noun for a person, it can sound rude or dismissive — it is normally used as an adjective in medical contexts.
Common pairings
geriatric medicine
geriatric ward
geriatric patient
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Word forms
- Plural
- geriatrics
- Comparative
- more geriatric
- Superlative
- most geriatric
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She works in the _____ ward of the hospital.
Etymology
Built from Ancient Greek gêras ("old age") plus the ending -iatric, seen also in "paediatric."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for geriatric
See all rhymes for 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.
