old people or older/elder people? (2025)

Here is the sentence I'm translating into English.

Many old people prefer to live by themselves.

I have a feeling that 'old people' sounds somewhat rough. Should I replace it with 'older people', or 'elder people', or 'elderly people'? Is there any difference between them?

Thanks in advance.

I don't think "old" is wrong, but depending on who will read what you are writing, it could be perceived as a bit too strong or even insulting. (Some people are quite sensitive in that matter)

I would use "elderly" instead, but it depends what age group you are talking about. It might be 'safer' to write something like "many people over 65..." etc.

'Elderly' is better than 'older' which is better than 'old' but does have that "older than what?" ambiguity. English doesn't use 'elder' in this way as in "elder people" or "elder home", but it can be used on its own as a uncountable noun - 'the elderly'- like ' the homeless' or ' the poor'.
Speaking as one of them, I can't really see any need to be 'safer' by specifying an age.

Hermione

It depends on the wider context, and on the audience.

Although "older people" is a very loosely-defined term, it is readily understood in most contexts, and perhaps no more imprecise than "old people" or "elderly people". It is free from the negative sense that many associate with "old" or "elderly". For example, I would not mind being described as one of the "older members" of a group, but I would chuck my zimmer at someone who described me as an "old member" or "elderly member".

If it is necessary to be more precise then you should use a more precise term.

"Senior citizens" is the euphemism currently in vogue in the U.S.

(speaking as one approaching that condition)

"Senior citizens"

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Here too sdg. A euphemism as you say and as such not favoured by me. Just call me a crazy old bat and have done with it.
We haven't mentioned 'aged' yet.

Hermione

panjandrum said:

Oh, I've just remembered ...
I took part in a community arts event last week, entitled Spring Chickens. I'm not suggesting that as the answer to the question, but from the publicity for the events:
... its innovative work with older people.
... within the older community...
... and supporting older people...

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"older" does sound best in this context. I disagree with my earlier post ;-)

However, it does depend on context and audience. What I was thinking of, when I said it would be 'safer' to maybe specify age, is that often you hear "young folks" talk about "old people" when they are talking about 40 year olds.
Without further context, I assumed the general statement in the original post to refer to 65 and up - an age group that is quite commonly referred to as elderly (in the road my grandparents live on there is a sign warning of "elderly people") - eventhough I personally don't think of 65 as elderly, but I guess that is up to the individual.

As panjandrum points out, the intended audience is an important factor, especially in this case.

Here in the eastern US, an area from which you haven't yet heard, I'd say that "senior citizen"--which generally refers to anyone over age 65 and thus eligible for Social Security and Medicare--is in disfavor among people in that age group.

And as prior respondents have warned, don't use "old".

"Elderly," I think, has a connotation of fragility and extreme age, despite the fact that news reports often use it to describe anyone over 50 or 60, especially if the person has been the victim of an accident or crime ("the speeding car struck an elderly man..." or "an elderly woman was robbed on her way home"), who turns out to be perhaps 62 years old. Such a person may of course be strong and healthy.

In my opinion, the best choice is "older".

What is the common way to refer to aged people ?

Old people, elderly people, and seniours- are these words interchangeably used with the same meaing?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with "old people/older people/the elderly/the aged"... And other options include "senior citizens"...

[Edited: Russian text removed from English Only forum. DonnyB - moderator]

Hello everyone,

When you see "aged people/ the aged", how many years old do you think it suggests? Does it sound older than ”the elderly"?

Thank you!!

panjandrum said:

It depends on the wider context, and on the audience.

Although "older people" is a very loosely-defined term, it is readily understood in most contexts, and perhaps no more imprecise than "old people" or "elderly people". It is free from the negative sense that many associate with "old" or "elderly". For example, I would not mind being described as one of the "older members" of a group, but I would chuck my zimmer at someone who described me as an "old member" or "elderly member".

If it is necessary to be more precise then you should use a more precise term.

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Can't we say "He is an elder member of our family."?

Joika said:

When you see "aged people/ the aged", how many years old do you think it suggests? Does it sound older than ”the elderly"?

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Aged sounds

old to me, Joika ~ and not at all kind.

There used to be a charity in the UK for old people in need. It was called Help the Aged. It was later merged with another charity and the old-fashioned name was changed.

Wikipedia tells me: The merged charity – known initially as Age Concern and Help the Aged, but now branded Age UK – was formed on 1 April 2009.

Yes, 'aged' suggests someone very old. If you say "He gave up work to stay home and look after his aged father", you imagine someone in their late 80s or 90s. There is a connotation of frailness and dependency in the word 'aged'.

'Elderly' also suggests someone in the last decades of life. I would not use 'elderly' for anyone under the age of 75.

I think the best word to use is 'older'. A fit, healthy 70 year old could be described as an older man or older woman. I wouldn't refer to them as 'elderly' - and definitely not 'aged'!

Wordy McWordface said:

Yes, 'aged' suggests someone very old. If you say "He gave up work to stay home and look after his aged father", you imagine someone in their late 80s or 90s. There is a connotation of frailness and dependency in the word 'aged'.

'Elderly' also suggests someone in the last decades of life. I would not use 'elderly' for anyone under the age of 75.

I think the best word to use is 'older'. A fit, healthy 70 year old could be described as an older man or older woman. I wouldn't refer to them as 'elderly' - and definitely not 'aged'!

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Can we say "He is an elder man."?

sinukg said:

Can we say "He is an elder man."?

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Sorry, no: that doesn't work.