# senior citizens

CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/senior-citizens
Updated: 2026-07-28

## Definition

older people who have retired from work and have reached a certain age, often 60 or 65. You often see this term used on signs for travel or movie discounts.

For teachers: an expression used to refer to elderly people, typically those who are retired or older than 60. Often used as a respectful alternative to 'old people' in administrative or polite social contexts.

## Examples

- Many cinemas offer cheaper tickets for senior citizens during the week.
- The city council recently voted to provide free public transportation for all local senior citizens.
- Demographic shifts in developed nations are forcing policymakers to address the specific healthcare and housing needs of an increasing population of senior citizens.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as a plural noun; the singular form 'senior citizen' is also common for individual identification.

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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.