# elder

/ˈɛɫdɝ/ (US) · /ˈɛldɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elder
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. an older person

noun · CEFR B1

a person who is older than you, often someone you should respect.

For teachers: a person of greater age than another, often used in the plural to refer to one's seniors or ancestors.

- In many cultures, children are taught to listen to their elders.
- The community gathered to hear the wisdom of their elders before making a decision about the new land laws.

### 2. a community leader

noun · CEFR B2

an important leader in a tribe or a small community who gives advice.

For teachers: an influential member of a tribe or community, respected for their experience and authority in consultative or ceremonial roles.

- The village elders met to discuss how to fix the water pump.
- The tribal elders served as the final arbiters in disputes regarding traditional boundaries and inheritance rights.

### 3. a church official

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a person who has a special job or high rank in a church.

For teachers: an ordained or appointed official in certain Christian denominations, often responsible for administration or spiritual guidance.

- He was appointed as an elder in his local church last Sunday.
- The council of elders convened to review the theological curriculum for the upcoming missionary training programme.

### 4. a type of tree

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small tree that has white flowers and dark purple berries.

For teachers: a shrub or small tree of the genus Sambucus, typically bearing clusters of small white flowers and dark berries.

- We picked berries from the elder tree to make homemade jam.
- The elder is widely valued in traditional medicine for its flowers and fruit, though the raw leaves and stems are mildly toxic.

### 5. older of two

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

used to describe the older of two people, especially in a family.

For teachers: denoting the older of two related people, or the senior of two people with the same name.

- The elder sister took care of the family business after their father retired.
- The elder Pitt was a formidable orator whose influence dominated British politics during the mid-eighteenth century.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

## Examples

- You should listen to the advice of your elders.
- The village elders met in the town square to discuss the new water management plan.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.