geriatrics

[ jer-ee-a-triks, jeer- ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of medicine dealing with the diseases, debilities, and care of aged people.
2. the study of the physical processes and problems of aging; gerontology.

geriatrics

/ ˌdʒɛrɪˈætrɪks /

noun

1. functioning as singular the branch of medical science concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting older people Compare gerontology

geriatrics

/ jĕr′ē-ăt′rĭks /

1. The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the elderly.

Usage

The term geriatric medicine is often used nowadays in preference to geriatrics

Other Words From

• ger·i·a·tri·cian [jer-ee-, uh, -, trish, -, uh, n], ger·i·at·rist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of geriatrics¹

First recorded in 1905–10; geriatric, -ics

Example Sentences

But in a campaign year where policy debate has taken a back seat to discussions about geriatrics and jail time, it almost seems a shame to pull this highly entertaining story from the mix.

From Los Angeles Times

And that can take a toll on our overall well-being, said Dr. Ashwin Kotwal, an assistant professor of geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

From Seattle Times

“As people get older, they need more sleep rather than less,” said Dr. Alison Moore, a professor of medicine and the chief of geriatrics, gerontology and palliative care at the University of California, San Diego.

From Seattle Times

Beyond that, Butler brings a fresh and welcome perspective to a Senate heavily populated with geriatrics and the well-to-do.

From Los Angeles Times

Such testing is not readily at hand because of the paucity of effective treatment for Alzheimer’s, which has helped to make geriatrics a relatively unappealing specialty.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• infirmity