geriatric

geriatric — adjective

IPA/ˌdʒer.iˈæt.rɪk/
KK[dʒˌɛriˈætrɪk]IPA/ˌdʒer.iˈæt.rɪk/
  • geriatricpositive
  • more geriatriccomparative
  • most geriatricsuperlative

1. connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults an

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults and treating health problems that come with advanced age.

Example

Ada's grandfather receives regular check-ups at the geriatric clinic near their home.

collocation: geriatric clinic

The hospital recently opened a new geriatric ward with wider doors for wheelchairs.

collocation: geriatric ward

Common collocations
  • geriatric care
  • geriatric ward
  • geriatric medicine
  • geriatric patient
  • geriatric clinic
  • geriatric unit
  • geriatric specialist
  • geriatric nursing
  • geriatric assessment
Synonyms
  • elderly

    politer, more respectful in general conversation; 'geriatric' is specifically clinical

  • senior

    softer, often used in non-medical contexts like 'senior citizen' or 'senior care'

  • aged

    more formal, emphasizes advanced years; common in legal or statistical writing

Antonyms
  • pediatric

    relating to children, the opposite end of the age spectrum in medicine

Usage Note

Common in medical and healthcare contexts. Use 'geriatric' before nouns such as 'care', 'ward', 'medicine', 'patient', and 'clinic'. This sense is neutral and factual, not pejorative.

Common Mistakes

My teacher is a geriatric person.
My teacher is an elderly person.
Using 'geriatric' as a general adjective for 'old' outside medical contexts can sound odd or disrespectful.

2. describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they see

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they seem useless or incapable — often used in a dismissive or disrespectful way.

Example

Meera said the geriatric professor could barely remember her own students' names.

dismissive use referring to a person

The school's geriatric heating system broke down every winter without fail.

extended use to objects

Common collocations
  • geriatric professor
  • geriatric patient
  • geriatric cat
  • geriatric dog
  • geriatric bus
  • geriatric heating system
  • geriatric computer
Synonyms
  • decrepit

    similar dismissive tone, but emphasizes broken-down physical condition

  • doddering

    describes someone who moves unsteadily due to age; equally dismissive

Antonyms
  • youthful

    having the energy or appearance of a young person

  • spry

    active and lively despite old age

Usage Note

Frequently carries a dismissive or disrespectful tone even when applied to objects or machines. Avoid this sense in formal or polite contexts about people. The same sentence can shift meaning depending on context — compare 'geriatric patient' at a hospital (sense 1, neutral) with 'geriatric patient' in casual conversation (sense 2, dismissive).

Common Mistakes

My grandpa is geriatric, but he still plays tennis.
My grandpa is elderly, but he still plays tennis.
Using 'geriatric' to describe a beloved family member sounds unkind; choose 'elderly' or 'older' instead.

geriatric — noun

IPA/ˌdʒeriˈætrɪk/
KK[dʒˌɛriˈætrɪk]IPA/ˌdʒeriˈætrɪk/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Old' is the most general and neutral term for someone or something that has lived many years — it applies to people, animals, objects, and ideas. 'Elderly' is a polite and respectful way to describe an older person, focusing on their stage of life rather than implying frailty, and is the safest choice for everyday conversation. 'Aged' is more formal and often appears in legal, medical, or statistical writing ('aged care', 'persons aged 65 and over'). 'Geriatric' in its medical sense (adjective sense 1) is specifically clinical — it refers to healthcare for older adults and the aging process. However, outside of medical contexts 'geriatric' frequently carries a dismissive or disrespectful tone (adjective sense 2). For example, you would say 'an elderly resident' to be polite, 'a geriatric patient' in a hospital chart, but 'a geriatric computer' to complain that it is outdated. Choose 'elderly' or 'older' for neutral conversation, and reserve 'geriatric' for clinical or deliberately informal contexts.

elderly ↗aged ↗old ↗geriatric ↗

Etymology

GreekEnglish

The word 'geriatric' was formed in the early 20th century from two Greek roots: 'geras' (γῆρας) meaning 'old age', and 'iatros' (ἰατρός) meaning 'physician' or 'healer'. It was modeled on the earlier word 'pediatric' (from Greek 'pais' meaning 'child'), replacing the child root with the old-age root. The medical specialty 'geriatrics' was coined around 1909 by Dr. Ignatz Nascher, an American physician who argued that older patients needed a distinct branch of medicine separate from general adult care.