What does "elder" mean?
A leader or senior member of a tribe or community, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
Elder
/ˈeldə/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A leader or senior member of a tribe or community, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
- Grammar: elder is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: senior, aaronic priesthood, acolyte, age.
- Useful contrasts: young person, youngest, babes.
- Usage evidence: Then the younger brother set off, and the elder remained behind.
How to use "elder"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elder" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elder" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elder" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elder" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elder" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "senior" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elder", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A leader or senior member of a tribe or community, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
"We were presented to the village elder."
- 2 A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.
"Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper."
- 3 A cow's udder, especially used as food.
- 4 a person who is older than you are wordnet
- 5 An old person. US
"Treating illness among society’s elders is challenging since board-certified geriatricians (physicians trained, knowledgeable and certified in treating older patients) are in short supply, here in El Paso and throughout the country."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white and yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).
- 7 any of various church officers wordnet
- 8 One who is older than another. in-plural, relational
"Respect your elders."
- 9 any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit wordnet
- 10 One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
"Carry your Head[…] as your Elders have done."
- 11 An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
- 12 A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
"a travelling elder"
- 13 One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood. Mormonism, US
"After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder."
- 14 A male missionary. Mormonism, US
"The elders are coming over for dinner tonight."
- 15 Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority. Mormonism, capitalized, often
"One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer."
- 16 A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess. Germanic
Verb
- 1 To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting. Quakerism
"I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship."
Adjective
- 1 comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority. comparative, form-of
"It's typical for elder married couples to live in retirement homes."
Adjective
- 1 used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
"Ruth Elder was known for her beauty and acting, but her real dream was to become the female version of transatlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Then the younger brother set off, and the elder remained behind."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elder"?
Common synonyms include: senior, aaronic priesthood, acolyte, age, aged people, alderman.
How do you use "elder" in a sentence?
Then the younger brother set off, and the elder remained behind.
How do you pronounce "elder"?
Pronounced /ˈeldə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra, yldra, ieldra, from Proto-Germanic *alþizô. The vowel change from a to e triggered by the following i is called umlaut or I-mutation.
Etymology 2
] Etymology tree Middle English eldre English elder From Middle English eldre, eller, ellern, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).
Etymology 3
Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”).