If old people become senile, they become confused, can no longer remember things, and are unable to look after themselves.
Synonyms: in your dotage, failing, infirm More Synonyms of senile
senility (sɪnɪlɪti)uncountable noun
He was showing unmistakable signs of senility.
Synonyms: dotage, infirmity, senescence, caducity More Synonyms of senile
senile in British English
(ˈsiːnaɪl)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or characteristic of old age
2.
mentally or physically weak or infirm on account of old age
3.
(of land forms or rivers) at an advanced stage in the cycle of erosion
old (sense 18)
Derived forms
senilely (ˈsenilely)
adverb
senility (sɪˈnɪlɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin senīlis, from senex an old man
senile in American English
(ˈsiˌnaɪl; ˈsɛnˌaɪl)
adjective
1.
a.
of, typical of, or resulting from old age
now chiefly medical
b.
showing the marked deterioration often accompanying old age, esp. mental impairment characterized by confusion, memory loss, etc.
2. Geology
nearing the end of an erosion cycle
Derived forms
senilely (ˈseˌnilely)
adverb
senility (seˈnility) (səˈnɪləti)
noun
Word origin
L senilis < senex, old: see senate
Synonyms of 'senile'
in your dotage, doddering, doting, decrepit
More Synonyms of senile
In other languages
senile
British English: senile ADJECTIVE
If old people become senile, they become confused, can no longer remember things, and are unable to look after themselves.
The old man was showing unmistakable signs of senility.
American English: senile
Brazilian Portuguese: senil
Chinese: 衰老的
European Spanish: senil
French: sénile
German: senil
Italian: senile
Japanese: 老人性認知症の
Korean: 노망든
European Portuguese: senil
Latin American Spanish: senil
Chinese translation of 'senile'
senile
(ˈsiːnaɪl)
adj
老态(態)龙(龍)钟(鐘)的 (lǎotài lóngzhōng de)
(adjective)
Definition
weak or infirm on account of old age
I started to feel senile and useless.
Synonyms
in your dotage
failing
infirm
Usage note
Words such as senile and geriatric are only properly used as medical terms. They are very insulting when used loosely to describe a person of advanced years.