What does geriatric mean?
Geriatric is an adjective meaning related to older people, especially to their health, medical treatment, and social care. It is especially common in phrases such as “geriatric medicine,” “geriatric care,” and “geriatric patients,” where it identifies a field or service concerned with the needs of older adults. The term can also function as a noun for an older person, although that use is now considered dated or informal in many settings. Geriatric is not simply a general synonym for “old”: it often suggests age-related medicine, frailty, or specialized care, although the precise connotations vary by context. The word is used in both British and American English and is generally formal or specialized. For respectful communication about individuals or groups, “older adults,” “older people,” or “seniors” may sometimes be more natural and less impersonal.
Relating to older people, or to the medical care and treatment of older adults.
"The nurse specialized in geriatric medicine after several years working in an emergency department."
Formal and commonly used in healthcare, social services, and institutional care. It can sound impersonal when applied broadly to older people, so more specific descriptions may be preferred in sensitive contexts.
An older person, especially one receiving medical, social, or community care.
"The charitable organization offered home visits to a geriatric who lived alone."
This use is now usually dated or informal; “older person” or “senior” is more common in general contemporary English.
The plural is geriatrics. The word commonly names the branch of medicine concerned with older people, while it can also refer collectively to older people in dated usage.
"The hospital's department of geriatrics specializes in the treatment of complex age-related conditions."
Geriatric combines the roots for “old age” and “physician,” so its history is literally a story about the medicine of aging.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does geriatric come from?
The word comes from Greek geriatrikos, meaning “of or relating to old age,” formed from gēras, “old age,” and iatros, “physician.” English adopted the term in the early nineteenth century in connection with the medical treatment of older people. Its relatives include geriatrics, geriatrician, gerontology, and gerontologist, which reflect the same or closely related Greek roots concerning old age and medical care.
Related word forms
How geriatric is actually used
The adjective is common in medical and social-care contexts and is usually more specific than simply describing someone as old. It can sound impersonal when used to refer to older people generally, so terms such as “older adults” may be preferable in sensitive or person-centered writing. The noun is comparatively dated and informal.
Easily confused with geriatric
Geriatric concerns older people, while pediatric concerns infants, children, and adolescents.