gerontocracy

[ jer-uh n-tok-ruh-see, jeer- ]
/ ˌdʒɛr ənˈtɒk rə si, ˌdʒɪər- /

noun, plural ger·on·toc·ra·cies.

government by a council of elders.
a governing body consisting of old people.
a state or government in which old people rule.

Origin of gerontocracy

First recorded in 1820–30; geronto- + -cracy

OTHER WORDS FROM gerontocracy

ge·ron·to·crat [juh-ron-tuh-krat] /dʒəˈrɒn təˌkræt/, noun ge·ron·to·crat·ic, adjective

Words nearby gerontocracy

gerona, geronimo, gerontal, gerontic, geronto-, gerontocracy, gerontogeous, gerontology, gerontomorphosis, gerontophobia, gerontoxon

Example sentences from the Web for gerontocracy

  • Gerontocracy, that is, government by the aged, is the most ancient form of government.

    The Cult of Incompetence |Emile Faguet

British Dictionary definitions for gerontocracy

gerontocracy
/ (ˌdʒɛrɒnˈtɒkrəsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

government by old people
a governing body of old people

Derived forms of gerontocracy

gerontocratic (dʒəˌrɒntəˈkrætɪk), adjective gerontocrat, noun

Cultural definitions for gerontocracy

gerontocracy
[ (jer-uhn-tok-ruh-see) ]

A society ruled by elders.