multi-age

IPA/mˈʌltiˈeɪdʒ/
IPA/mˈʌltaɪˈeɪdʒ/

multi-age — adjective

1. bringing together people from different age groups, or designed so people of sev

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

bringing together people from different age groups, or designed so people of several ages can join the same activity

Example

The library started a multi-age reading club for children, parents, and grandparents.

multi-age reading club

Gabriel chose a multi-age volunteer team so teenagers and retirees could work together.

multi-age volunteer team

Common collocations
  • multi-age class
  • multi-age group
  • multi-age program
  • multi-age reading club
  • multi-age camp
Synonyms
  • mixed-age

    the closest everyday synonym, especially for classes or groups with people of different ages

  • all-age

    stresses that everyone is welcome, but not always that the ages work together closely

  • intergenerational

    usually highlights deliberate contact between different generations, especially younger and older people

Antonyms
  • single-age

    used when all participants are kept within one age band

  • age-specific

    emphasizes that an activity is designed for one particular age group

Grammar Patterns

multi-age + class/group/program

a multi-age + noun

Usage Note

Most often used before nouns such as class, group, program, or space. It emphasizes people of different ages taking part together, rather than a setting limited to one age band.

Common Mistakes

The museum has a multi-age for families.
The museum has a multi-age program for families.
'Multi-age' is an adjective, so it normally needs a noun after it.
The camp was multi-age of children from six to twelve.
The camp was multi-age, with children from six to twelve learning together.
do not use 'of' directly after 'multi-age' to list the ages.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Multi-age' and 'mixed-age' are often very close, especially in schools, camps, and community programs where people from different age groups learn or work together. 'Mixed-age' is usually the more everyday label, while 'multi-age' often sounds more formal or program-based. 'All-age' shifts the focus to access: it means everyone is welcome, but it does not always suggest that different ages will interact closely in the same group. 'Intergenerational' is narrower and more purposeful, often describing projects that connect children, teenagers, parents, and older adults across generations. A classroom can be multi-age or mixed-age, a public event can be all-age, and a storytelling project linking children with grandparents is intergenerational.

multi-age ↗mixed-ageall-ageintergenerational ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • multi-age learning
  • multi-age setting

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in modern English from the prefix 'multi-', meaning 'many', and the noun 'age'. It is used for classes, groups, and programs that bring together people from different age levels instead of separating them by year or generation.