the elder
noun
1
—used in comparing the ages of two people who are members of the same family
He's the elder of her two brothers.
2
—used to refer to the older of two people (such as a father and son) who have the same name
Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger
Examples of the elder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Álex believes the additional expectation Marc has taken on might weigh the elder sibling down.
—
Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
By their mid-teens the elder had sunk into despair.
—Esther Freud, Vogue, 2 July 2025
For older adults with family support, these kinds of decisions are often the focus of ongoing discussions about what is the best path for the elder.
—Sara Zeff Geber, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The ritual still began with the elder, but by the end, every hand had touched the bowl.
—Sara Hussain, Vogue, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the elder
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
By their mid-teens the elder had sunk into despair.
—Esther Freud, Vogue, 2 July 2025
For older adults with family support, these kinds of decisions are often the focus of ongoing discussions about what is the best path for the elder.
—Sara Zeff Geber, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
The ritual still began with the elder, but by the end, every hand had touched the bowl.
—Sara Hussain, Vogue, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the elder
Cite this Entry
“The elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20elder. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share