ENGLISH
REFERENCE

elder

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛɫdɝ// UK //ˈɛldɐ// el·der

n. a person who is older and often respected for their experience and wisdom. In many cultures, these people are leaders or teachers in their community.

n. a person of greater age than another, or a senior member of a community or tribe who holds a position of authority. Often used in plural to refer to the collective group of senior figures in a society.


SIMPLE

You should listen to the advice of your elders.

CONTEXTUAL

The village elders met in the town square to discuss the new water management plan.

COMPLEX

While modern society often prioritises youth, many indigenous cultures maintain a deep reverence for the elder as a living repository of oral history and traditional ecological knowledge.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in the plural form 'elders' when referring to senior members of a family or community.

Pitfall

He is my elder brotherHe is my older brotherWhile 'elder' can be an adjective, 'older' is the standard choice for comparing siblings in modern English; 'elder' is more formal or restricted to specific titles.

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