What does septuagenarian mean?
A septuagenarian is a person who is in their seventies, between 70 and 79 years old. The word is used mainly as a precise age designation and is especially common in formal, biographical, journalistic, or historical writing. In everyday conversation, most speakers would more often say that someone is 70 years old or in their seventies, because septuagenarian can sound distant or unnecessarily technical. Nevertheless, it is useful when a particular decade is relevant, as in reporting on an achievement by an athlete in a particular age category or describing a notable person’s longevity. The term derives from the Latin septuagenarius, meaning a seventy-year-old, and belongs to a broader family of Latin-derived age words that includes octogenarian for someone in their eighties and centenarian for someone who has reached 100.
nounA person who is in their seventies, meaning aged between 70 and 79. The term is a neutral, formal alternative to simply saying someone is 70 or older.
- A person between 70 and 79 years old.
"At 74, she remained an energetic septuagenarian who regularly went hiking."
"The septuagenarian athlete continued training three times a week."
"In her memoir, a septuagenarian reflects on the changes she has witnessed during her lifetime."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one person in their seventies.
"Several septuagenarians attended the community center’s technology workshop."
English has a precise title for every age bracket: septuagenarian for the seventies, octogenarian for the eighties, and nonagenarian for the nineties.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does septuagenarian come from?
The word comes from Latin septuagenarius, meaning "seventy-year-old," from septuaginta, "seventy," which in turn derives from septem, "seven." It entered English during the 17th century and follows the Latin pattern of naming a person by the decade in which they belong. Related English forms include septuagenary, septuagesimal, and septuagint, all of which reflect the same numerical tradition.
Related word forms
How septuagenarian is actually used
The term is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech, where people may simply say someone is in their seventies. Its Latin-derived form sounds more specific and less potentially offensive than labels such as "old" or "elderly."
Easily confused with septuagenarian
A septuagenarian is in their seventies, while an octogenarian is in their eighties.