ageist

[ ey-jist ]

adjective

1. relating to, involving, or fostering discrimination against persons of a certain age group:

   This ageist narrative about the shortcomings of contemporary youngsters has become widely accepted, but it is useful to remember that every cohort has faced the same prejudice when they were young.

2. showing or suggesting a belief that older people are debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment:

   The movie provides a window into the diverse lives of older LGBTQ adults, trampling common ageist stereotypes and showing viewers that there is no singular LGBTQ elder story.

noun

1. someone who discriminates against persons of a certain age group, especially older people:

   As young global citizens and digital natives, we're here to prove ageists and Luddites wrong.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ageist¹

age ( def ) + -ist ( def )

Example Sentences

Shortly after he turned 50, Petrow, who writes about aging, health, manners and civility, began to confront his ageist beliefs and vowed not to let aging limit or diminish his life.

From Washington Blade