1
: of earlier birth or greater age
his elder brother
2
: of or relating to earlier times : former
3
archaic
: of or relating to a more advanced time of life
4
: prior or superior in rank, office, or validity
1
: one living in an earlier period
2
a
: one who is older : senior
a child trying to please her elders
b
: an aged person
3
: one having authority by virtue of age and experience
the village elders
4
: any of various officers of religious groups: such as
b
: a permanent officer elected by a Presbyterian congregation and ordained to serve on the session and assist the pastor at communion
c
d
: a leader of the Shakers
e
: a Mormon ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood
Synonyms
Examples of elder in a Sentence
Noun (2)
in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect
as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do
it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders
as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Four church elders, Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco and Gayland Lawshe, were removed after the investigation concluded.
—Jenna Sundel, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 May 2024
My elder millennials will remember: Before there was Zendaya to reliably shut down the Met Gala red carpet every year, there was Sarah Jessica Parker.
—Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for elder 
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Noun
Seven deputies are charged with a single felony count of elder or dependent adult abuse: deputies Donall Rowe, Ross Burruel, Robinderpal Hayer, Andre Gaston, Syear Osmani, Mateusz Laszuk and Christopher Haendel.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Four church elders, Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco and Gayland Lawshe, were removed after the investigation concluded.
—Jenna Sundel, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Developer Raul Masvidal, a Miami elder statesman with the kind of name recognition built from years of banking, philanthropy and associations with governors and senators to fuel a candidacy for Miami mayor, has died.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 May 2024
My elder millennials will remember: Before there was Zendaya to reliably shut down the Met Gala red carpet every year, there was Sarah Jessica Parker.
—Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for elder
Articles Related to elder
Dictionary Entries Near elder
Cite this Entry
“Elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elder. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elder
1 of 3 noun
el·der
ˈel-dər 
elder
2 of 3 adjective
: of greater age
the elder cousin
Etymology
Noun
Old English ellærn "elder tree"
Adjective
Old English ieldra, comparative form of eald "old"
Medical Definition
elder
noun
el·der
ˈel-dər
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