elderly
n. uncountablen. a group of people who are old. It is a polite way to talk about senior citizens as a whole group.
n. people who are past middle age, considered as a collective group. Usually functions as a collective noun preceded by the definite article.
The government is building new housing for the elderly.
The local community center offers several free exercise classes specifically designed to help the elderly stay active.
Public policy must address the unique healthcare challenges faced by the elderly, particularly as life expectancy continues to rise across the developed world.
From elder + -ly.
Used as a collective noun with 'the' (the elderly); it takes a plural verb. It is considered more respectful than 'old people' but less specific than 'seniors'.
He is an elderly.He is an elderly man.When referring to a single person, 'elderly' must be used as an adjective followed by a noun; it cannot be a singular count noun.