Elderly and Old

Elderly

Elderly adjective - Being of advanced years and especially past middle age.
Usage example: elderly people who stay active are usually the healthiest and the happiest

Old is a synonym for elderly in aged topic. In some cases you can use "Old" instead an adjective "Elderly", when it comes to topics like person, ancient, new, very old. popular alternative

Nearby Word: elder

Old

Old adjective - Being of advanced years and especially past middle age.
Usage example: every day the old fisherman set out in his small boat to brave the dangers of the sea

Elderly is a synonym for old in aged topic. You can use "Elderly" instead an adjective "Old", if it concerns topics such as person, new, very old, advanced in age. popular alternative

Nearby Words: oldie, olden, oldish

Both words in one sentence

  • The tribe's elderly chief wants to secure his tribe's future by replacing the old building with a new modern casino and hotel.
  • He's a ruthless murderous gang leader and a 19th century equivalent of a mafia boss, but he cares for the children and elderly who live in the five points in old New York.
    Source: Noble Demon
  • It's often an old person just trying to stand up or do something ordinary, emphasizing the creaky, fragile state of an elderly body.
Cite this Source
Old and Elderly. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/elderly/old
Elderly & Old. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/elderly/old>.
Old or Elderly. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/elderly/old.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "elderly" and "old" have occurred on timeline