gerontocracy

[ jer-uhn-tok-ruh-see, jeer- ]

noun

, plural ger·on·toc·ra·cies.

1. government by a council of elders.
2. a governing body consisting of old people.
3. a state or government in which old people rule.

gerontocracy

/ dʒəˌrɒntəˈkrætɪk; ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by old people
2. a governing body of old people

gerontocracy

1. A society ruled by elders.

Derived Forms

• gerontocratic, adjective
• geˈrontoˌcrat, noun

Other Words From

• ge·ron·to·crat [j, uh, -, ron, -t, uh, -krat], noun
• ge·ronto·cratic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerontocracy¹

First recorded in 1820–30; geronto- + -cracy

Example Sentences

“We may end up remembering 2024 as the year the gerontocracy voted itself out of office,” said the New Republic.

From Los Angeles Times

Senate, the gerontocracy remains alive and well — and little commented upon.

From New York Times

Only Ms. Porter, who just turned 50, referred to it directly, but the balance between experienced representation and gerontocracy was a clear subtext.

From New York Times

Maybe the gerontocracy was yielding, and America-2 was turning a new page.

From New York Times

Once an obscure word, "gerontocracy," which means a government ruled by people who are significantly older than the adult population, is now increasingly part of Americans' vocabulary.

From BBC