What does gerontocrat mean?
A gerontocrat is an elderly person who holds power, especially a senior political figure or ruler. The term is usually critical: it suggests that authority has become concentrated in older leaders and that age itself is securing continued office. Gerontocrats can be elected or otherwise legitimate officeholders, so the word is not necessarily a claim that they are incompetent; it focuses instead on their demographic position and the power they exercise. In political analysis, “gerontocracy” denotes rule by a disproportionately elderly elite, while “gerontocrat” refers to an individual within such a system. The expression is especially common in criticism of political institutions, though it may also be used neutrally when historians classify leaders by age. Knowing it helps distinguish a pointed political label from an ordinary reference to any older adult and avoids implying that old age alone is a political defect.
nounAn elderly person who holds power, especially a senior political figure or ruler. The term is usually critical, suggesting that power is concentrated in the hands of older people.
- An elderly person who holds political power or occupies an influential position, especially within a government dominated by older leaders.
"Opposition leaders accused the aging administration of becoming a political gerontocracy under an entrenched gerontocrat."
"The senator became the party's leading gerontocrat, commanding respect while discouraging younger rivals."
"The essay describes the country as a gerontocracy in which important offices remain occupied by the same aging elite."
The standard plural of gerontocrat, used for multiple elderly people in positions of power.
"The reform brought several gerontocrats into direct conflict with younger members of the party."
Its Greek parts form an accusation in miniature: geras means “old age,” while -crat means “ruler” or “holder of power.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gerontocrat come from?
Gerontocrat is a twentieth-century English compound built from geronto-, a combining form associated with the Greek géras, “old age,” and -crat, meaning a ruler or holder of power and ultimately derived from Greek krátos, “power.” The related gerontocracy uses the same age-and-power elements to mean rule by elderly people. The shared root also appears in gerontology and geriatric, both concerned with old age and aging.
Related word forms
How gerontocrat is actually used
The term is generally critical and is not a neutral synonym for an elderly person. It may be used analytically or historically when discussing the concentration of political power among older people, but it often carries the implication that age or entrenched seniority is being used to preserve authority.
Easily confused with gerontocrat
A gerontologist studies aging and old age, whereas a gerontocrat is an elderly person who holds power.