adjective

geriatric

/ˌdʒɛrɪˈætrɪk/ · say it: jer·uh·AT·rik

relating to the medical care of old age

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (adjective) relating to or affecting old people or the care of old people

2. (adjective) old or outdated, no longer modern or effective

Examples

1. The hospital opened a new geriatric ward for elderly patients.
2. They replaced the geriatric computer system with modern equipment.

How to use geriatric

Geriatric is primarily a medical and healthcare term describing medical care, patients, or conditions related to older people. In informal usage, it can be dismissive or mildly derogatory when applied to non-medical contexts (e.g., 'that geriatric computer') to mean outdated. The formal, clinical sense is standard and neutral; the informal sense may carry negative connotations.

Common phrases

geriatric care
geriatric medicine
geriatric patient
geriatric ward
geriatric services

Synonyms

elderly · aged · senescent · old-age · aging

Opposites

youthful · modern · contemporary

Word family

geriatrician · geriatrics

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'geriatric' as a general adjective for old people in everyday conversation when 'elderly' or 'older' would be more appropriate and less potentially offensive outside medical contexts.

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