You use elderly as a polite way of saying that someone is old.
[politeness]
...an elderly couple.
Many of those most affected are elderly.
The elderly are people who are old. This use could cause offence.
The elderly are a formidable force in any election.
2. graded adjective
If you describe an object as elderly, you are referring, often in a humorous way, to the fact that it is rather old or old-fashioned and not as good or efficient as a new one would be.
Some of those artillery pieces look a little elderly.
elder
More Synonyms of elderly
elderly in British English
(ˈɛldəlɪ)
adjective(of people)
a.
quite old; past middle age
b.
(as collective noun; preceded by the)
the elderly
▶ Related adjective: geriatric
▶ USAGE Referring to any group using the formula the elderly, the disabled is felt to be inappropriate because it glosses over people's individuality and perpetuatesstereotypes. It is preferable to use phrases such as disabled people and so forth. Many people also prefer to talk about older rather than elderly people for similar reasons
Derived forms
elderliness (ˈelderliness)
noun
elderly in American English
(ˈɛldərli)
adjective
1.
somewhat old; past middle age; approaching old age
2.
quite old; already in old age; aged
3.
not current; outmoded
Idioms:
the elderly
Derived forms
elderliness (ˈelderliness)
noun
Examples of 'elderly' in a sentence
elderly
Residential homes are so stretched that elderly patients are routinely deprived of their dignity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Spare a thought for elderly people trying to be independent and look after their own residential care.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Families have been banned from visiting elderly loved ones in residential care for complaining about standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My posture and gait become those of an elderly lady.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All paramedics working in that area know to look there before treating an elderly patient.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
AN elderly woman has lost a legal battle to remain in the house she has lived in all her life.
The Sun (2016)
The caller urges the often elderly victims to transfer their money to a'safe' account set up in their name.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One elderly woman dashed into the street with a broom.
The Sun (2013)
The demographic change has increased the numbers of frail elderly patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Too often our elderly seem all but abandoned.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We have very many elderly and frail people that attend day care and some are diabetic.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Surely he could let us on rather than leave elderly gentlemen in the cold.
The Sun (2010)
Many were elderly or retired and could not afford to lose the money.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were popular with the elderly couple and their family and their employment was considered a success.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
One is very elderly and is distraught as she thought the world of him.
The Sun (2015)
He also attacked an elderly man who offered him a lift home.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Near me sat an elderly woman with cotton wool in her ears.
Marsden, Philip The Crossing-Place (1993)
They range from the young to the elderly and more often than not they are women.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Cuts of the elderly rather than for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The only others at the afternoon showing were an elderly couple.
The Sun (2014)
It is an impressive list but also a very elderly one.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Most of those affected are elderly patients with serious underlying illnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Elderly people often stay longer in hospital than needed because they have no support at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The elderly man explained apologetically that he had lost track of his wife and was preoccupied searching for her.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But more and more elderly people are now being handed the money so that they can arrange the care themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Elderly people are quite neglected, don't you think?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
elderly
British English: elderly /ˈɛldəlɪ/ ADJECTIVE
You use elderly as a polite way of saying that someone is old.
...an elderly couple.
American English: elderly
Arabic: مُسِنّ
Brazilian Portuguese: idoso
Chinese: 年过中年的
Croatian: stariji
Czech: postarší
Danish: ældre
Dutch: bejaard
European Spanish: anciano
Finnish: iäkäs
French: âgé
German: ältlich
Greek: ηλικιωμένος
Italian: anziano
Japanese: 年配の
Korean: 나이가 지긋한
Norwegian: tilårskommen
Polish: starszy
European Portuguese: idoso
Romanian: vârstnic
Russian: пожилой
Latin American Spanish: anciano
Swedish: äldre
Thai: สูงวัย
Turkish: yaşlılar
Ukrainian: літній
Vietnamese: cao tuổi
British English: elderly NOUN
The elderly are people who are old.
The elderly are a formidable force in any election.
American English: elderly
Brazilian Portuguese: idosos
Chinese: 老年人
European Spanish: ancianos
French: personne âgée
German: Alte
Italian: anziani
Japanese: 年配者
Korean: 노인들
European Portuguese: idosos
Latin American Spanish: ancianos
All related terms of 'elderly'
the elderly
elderly people as a group
elderly couple
A couple is two people who are married , living together, or having a sexual relationship .
confused elderly
no longer having sufficient mental abilities for independent living, as a result of old age
elderly gentleman
You can address men as gentlemen , or refer politely to them as gentlemen .
elderly neighbour
Your neighbour is someone who lives near you.
elderly population
If you refer to a particular type of population in a country or area, you are referring to all the people or animals of that type there.
Chinese translation of 'elderly'
elderly
(ˈɛldəlɪ)
adj
(= old) 年长(長)的 (niánzhǎng de)
n pl
the elderly老人家 (lǎorenjia)
(adjective)
Definition
rather old
There was an elderly couple on the terrace.
Synonyms
old
I was considered too old for the job.
aged
She has an aged parent who needs some care.
ageing
ancient
ancient rites
mature
past it (informal)
venerable
patriarchal
grey-haired
geriatric (offensive)
getting on
over the hill (informal)
He doesn't take kindly to suggestions that he is over the hill.
grizzled
a stranger with grey, grizzled hair
a grizzled old warrior
decrepit
hoary
the hoary old myth that women are unpredictable
superannuated
the superannuated idealism of the sixties
long in the tooth (informal)
grey
a grey old man
doddery
senescent
advanced in years
full of years
past your prime
(plural noun)
Definition
old people
The elderly are a formidable force in any election.