the elder
noun
1
—used in comparing the ages of two people who are members of the same family
He's the elder of her two brothers.
2
—used to refer to the older of two people (such as a father and son) who have the same name
Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger
Examples of the elder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
John, the elder, lit out for the West in 1857, wound up in Illinois, joined the Union Army for the duration and beyond, and came to Sawtelle in 1900.
—
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The man and his brother, a medical doctor, then embark on drastically different missions to cure their mother, the elder relying on medical science and the younger turning to the feel-good vibes endorsed by the Sunshine Club.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
Gena Rowlands, whose captivating work in A Woman Under the Influence and as the elder and dementia-ridden Allie in The Notebook moved moviegoers, has died at 94.
—Bruce Haring, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024
Things aren’t going well for the elder, unraveling supe.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the elder 
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Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The man and his brother, a medical doctor, then embark on drastically different missions to cure their mother, the elder relying on medical science and the younger turning to the feel-good vibes endorsed by the Sunshine Club.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
Gena Rowlands, whose captivating work in A Woman Under the Influence and as the elder and dementia-ridden Allie in The Notebook moved moviegoers, has died at 94.
—Bruce Haring, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024
Things aren’t going well for the elder, unraveling supe.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the elder
Dictionary Entries Near the elder
Cite this Entry
“The elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20elder. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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