ENGLISH
REFERENCE

olds

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈoʊɫdz// olds Humorous Informal Slang

n. a funny or slightly rude way to talk about your parents. It is usually used by adults when they are joking about their family.

n. a humorous or mildly irreverent term for one's parents. Informal in register and typically used by adults in casual conversation.


SIMPLE

I am going to visit the olds this weekend.

CONTEXTUAL

He decided to stay at a hotel rather than with the olds to avoid their early morning routine.

COMPLEX

While the term might seem dismissive to outsiders, he used it with a certain weary affection when describing his weekend trips to help the olds with their gardening.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural in form and takes a plural verb; almost exclusively used with the definite article 'the'.

© 2026 English Reference