sexagenarian

[ sek-suh-juh-nair-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of the age of 60 years or between 60 and 70 years old.

noun

1. a sexagenarian person.

sexagenarian

/ sɛkˈsædʒɪnərɪ; ˌsɛksədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person from 60 to 69 years old

adjective

1. being from 60 to 69 years old
2. of or relating to a sexagenarian

Derived Forms

• sexagenary, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sexagenarian¹

1730–40; < Latin sexāgēnāri ( us ) sexagenary + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of sexagenarian¹

C18: from Latin sexāgēnārius, from sexāgēnī sixty each, from sexāgintā sixty

Example Sentences

His memoir braids a journalist’s best efforts at answers with a sexagenarian’s complicated acceptance of the inevitable.

From New York Times

A sexagenarian who revels in routine, Otto wakes up at 6:29 a.m. — seconds before his alarm is set to go off — and makes the rounds in his gated Pittsburgh cul-de-sac.

From Washington Post

“This is a sexagenarian with an acoustic guitar. All the outrage and concern are entirely about the quote message it sends unquote,” the statement said.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is a sexagenarian with an acoustic guitar,” the venue said.

From New York Times

Marsalis was quick to say he didn’t name this weekend’s concerts — “Wynton at 60” — which celebrate his new status as a sexagenarian with a program of his originals from four decades.

From New York Times

More About Sexagenarian

What does sexagenarian mean?

A sexagenarian is someone in their 60s (60 to 69 years old), or someone who is 60 years old.

Sexagenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 60s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of sexagenarian women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my sexagenarian years. 

It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s).

Such words are more commonly used as people get older: sexagenarian is more common than quadragenarian and quinquagenarian, which are rarely used. Septuagenarian and octogenarian are even more commonly used.

Another word for sexagenarian is sexegenary.

Example: Today is my last day as a sexagenarian—tomorrow I begin my 70s!

Where does sexagenarian come from?

The word sexagenarian comes from the Latin word sexāgēnārius, from sexāgēnī, meaning “sixty each,” from sexāgintā, “sixty.” 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 60-year-old or describe them as in their 60s or 60-something than to call them a sexagenarian. But sexagenarian is used as a fancy or fun way of referring to someone of that age, including by sexagenarians who apply it to themselves. As much fun as it is to say, it’s perhaps more often used in writing. It’s especially used in the context of highlighting a person who’s doing something that may be surprising for their age, as in My sexagenarian yoga instructor is way more flexible than I am.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for sexagenarian?

• sexagenary
• 60-year-old
• sixty-year-old
• 60-something
• sixty-something

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

• Sexagesima
• sexagesimal
• quadragenarian
• quinquagenarian
• septuagenarian
• octogenarian
• nonagenarian
• centenarian

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

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

How is sexagenarian used in real life?

Sexagenarian is often used to be fancy or funny when referring to 60-somethings.

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

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

Just found out I’m a “sexagenarian”. Sounds great doesn’t it? Much better than “in your sixties”. 😎

— William Sadler (@Wm_Sadler) November 19, 2019

NEW POD – sprightly sexagenarian @simonmayo and @KermodeMovie (still a slip of a quinquagenarian) with Cate Blanchett and @jackblack (mere quadragenarians), @housewithaclock, @TLS_film, @ASimpleFavor and more. DOWNLOAD and SUBSCRIBE: https://t.co/zDeHSXKxNW

— Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (@wittertainment) September 21, 2018

 

 

Try using sexagenarian!

Is sexagenarian used correctly in the following sentence?

Most of my fondest memories have come from my sexagenarian years.