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nonagenarian
[ non-uh-juh-nair-ee-uhn, noh-nuh- ]
adjective
- of the age of 90 years, or between 90 and 100 years old.
noun
- a nonagenarian person.
nonagenarian
/ ˌnəʊnədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /
noun
- a person who is from 90 to 99 years old
adjective
- of, relating to, or denoting a nonagenarian
Word History and Origins
Origin of nonagenarian1
Word History and Origins
Origin of nonagenarian1
Example Sentences
“Thelma” playfully sprinkles “Mission: Impossible”-style action set pieces into the story, appropriately scaled to a nonagenarian’s abilities.
For President Biden, marking the 90th anniversary of D-Day in France is an opportunity to be commander in chief and statesman while hailing the nonagenarian American veterans who liberated Europe from Nazi Germany.
Describing her journey, the nonagenarian said she had fallen twice and was forced to stop to rest at some points, even sleeping along the way before waking up and continuing her journey.
With a nonagenarian incumbent, the race was inherently about generational change.
A prickly cabdriver gains perspective thanks to a chatty nonagenarian.
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More About Nonagenarian
What does nonagenarian mean?
A nonagenarian is someone in their 90s (90 to 99 years old), or someone who is 90 years old.
Nonagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 90s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of nonagenarian women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my nonagenarian years.
It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and centenarian (100 or older).
Example: Today is my last day as a nonagenarian—tomorrow I turn 100!
Where does nonagenarian come from?
The first records of the word nonagenarian come from around 1800. It comes from the Latin word nōnāgēnāri(us), meaning “containing ninety,” from nōnāginta, “ninety.” The suffix -an is used to indicate a person (as seen in common words like pedestrian and historian).
It’s more common to refer to someone as a 90-year-old or describe them as in their 90s or 90-something than to call them a nonagenarian. But nonagenarian is used as a fancy or fun way of referring to someone of that age, including by nonagenarians who apply it to themselves. As much fun as it is to say, it’s perhaps more often used in writing. It’s often used in the context of highlighting a person who’s doing something that may be surprising for their age, as in That nonagenarian marathon runner is amazing.
Did you know ... ?
What are some synonyms for nonagenarian?
- 90-year-old
- ninety-year-old
- 90-something
- ninety-something
What are some words that share a root or word element with nonagenarian?
What are some words that often get used in discussing nonagenarian?
How is nonagenarian used in real life?
Nonagenarian is often used to be fancy or funny when referring to 90-somethings.
Interviewed a 90-yr-old man yesterday. Sat on his porch in the rural #South. At one point he laughed and said: "I like to talk to young whippersnappers.” Thoughts: 1) I am young to nonagenarians 2) I have never snapped a whip. 3) Reporting can be a lot of fun. #Journalism pic.twitter.com/NNBFbpFFaX
— Cameron McWhirter (@cammcwhirter) October 29, 2019
Nonagenarian chums #MelBrooks #CarlReiner #DickVanDyke. So sad to hear of the passing of #CarlReiner at the age of 98. This shoot of these three comedy legends has been a highlight of my 30 year career. RIP Carl. pic.twitter.com/z865evMwfA
— Andy Gotts (@DrGotts) June 30, 2020
My older mother and 90-something granddad haaaaaated my low-to-the-ground civic SI. I packed another nonagenarian in and out of that car – also not easy. Higher seems preferable
— Kate Crane (@cratekane) July 20, 2020
Try using nonagenarian!
Is nonagenarian used correctly in the following sentence?
I can’t believe I’m nearing my nonagenarian years—40 seems like yesterday.
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