octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is in the eighties

The octogenarian uses a cane for walking.

octogenarian adjective

Examples of octogenarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The octogenarian was said to have enjoyed strolling the Jersey Boardwalk and exploring empty parking lots. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024

There are children eating from high tables downstairs and octogenarians playing cards upstairs. —Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

Pelosi’s fall was the second this week for a congressional octogenarian: The 82-year-old Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell tripped in the Capitol, spraining his wrist and suffering a facial cut. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Dec. 2024

An octogenarian who once represented Rita Hayworth in her divorce from the Aly Khan, Maître Blum seems to be Simpson’s de-facto jail warden. —Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin octogenarius containing eighty, from octogeni eighty each, from octoginta eighty, from octo eight + -ginta (akin to viginti twenty) — more at vigesimal

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is between 80 and 89

Medical Definition

octogenarian

noun

oc·​to·​ge·​nar·​i·​an ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: a person whose age is in the eighties

octogenarian adjective