octogenarian

[ ok-tuh-juh-nair-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of the age of 80 years.
2. between 80 and 90 years old.

noun

1. a person who is between 80 and 90 years old.

octogenarian

/ ˌɒktəʊdʒɪˈnɛərɪən; ɒkˈtɒdʒɪnərɪ /

noun

1. a person who is from 80 to 89 years old

adjective

1. of or relating to an octogenarian

Other Words From

• octo·ge·nari·an·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of octogenarian¹

1805–15; < Latin octōgēnāri ( us ) comprising eighty, eighty years old (equivalent to octōgēn ( ī ) eighty each + -ārius -ary ) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of octogenarian¹

C19: from Latin octōgēnārius containing eighty, from octōgēnī eighty each

Example Sentences

The octogenarian president’s bent posture and halted speaking manner didn’t reassure many Democrats, even as they pointed to the many verbal miscues of Trump, just three years his junior.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, 11 years later, these are long mornings, especially for a soon-to-be octogenarian.

From Salon

The major studios wouldn’t touch “Megalopolis,” the ambitious passion project from octogenarian Oscar-winner Francis Ford Coppola.

From Los Angeles Times

McKellen has often returned to the stage for Shakespeare plays throughout his six-decade career, including in recent years as King Lear and as an octogenarian Hamlet.

From New York Times

There is no doubting the octogenarian’s exalted status here in his heartland, where he is respected for upholding his cultural and traditional Zulu beliefs.

From BBC

More About Octogenarian

What does octogenarian mean?

An octogenarian is someone in their 80s (80 to 89 years old), or someone who is 80 years old.

Octogenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 80s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of octogenarian women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my octogenarian 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), and nonagenarian (90s).

Such words are more commonly used as people get older: quadragenarian and quinquagenarian are rarely used, but septuagenarian and octogenarian are more commonly used.

Another less common word for octogenarian is octogenary.

Example: Today is my last day as an octogenarian—tomorrow I begin my 90s!

Where does octogenarian come from?

The word octogenarian comes from the Latin word octōgēnāri(us), meaning “containing eighty” or “eighty years old,” from octōgēn(ī), meaning “eighty each.” 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 80-year-old or describe them as in their 80s or 80-something than to call them an octogenarian. But octogenarian is used as a fancy or fun way of referring to someone of that age, including by octogenarians 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 My octogenarian yoga instructor is way more flexible than I am.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to octogenarian?

• octogenarianism (noun)

What are some synonyms for octogenarian?

• octogenary
• 80-year-old
• eighty-year-old
• 80-something
• eighty-something

What are some words that share a root or word element with octogenarian? 

• octopus
• quadragenarian
• quinquagenarian
• sexagenarian
• septuagenarian
• nonagenarian
• centenarian

What are some words that often get used in discussing octogenarian?

• eighty
• age
• year
• old
• decade
• life
• birthday
• milestone

How is octogenarian​ used in real life?

Octogenarian is often used to be fancy or funny when referring to 80-somethings.

The journey of 20 years from sexagenarian to octogenarian 😌😍 pic.twitter.com/vPP9w3TsXY

— Dadi Chandro Tomar (@realshooterdadi) December 10, 2019

Yesterday was Little Freddie King's 80th birthday! Today from 2-4pm on WWOZ, @AndrewGrafe will be honoring the newly minted octogenarian on 'Blues Eclectic.' Listen in at 90.7 FM, locally, or https://t.co/659B3JbIlL, worldwide. pic.twitter.com/BXM3E6Ex2y

— WWOZ 90.7 FM (@wwoz_neworleans) July 20, 2020

The octogenarian couple is giving cool kids and hipsters a run for their money. ❤️https://t.co/aeOJ0FRCZ0

— Yahoo Singapore (@YahooSG) July 23, 2020

 

 

Try using octogenarian!

Is octogenarian used correctly in the following sentence?

I can’t believe I’m nearing my octogenarian years—40 seems like yesterday.