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geriatric
[ jer-ee-a-trik, jeer- ]
adjective
- of or relating to geriatrics or old age:
the hospital's geriatric ward.
- noting or relating to aged people or animals: a geriatric pet.
geriatric patients;
a geriatric pet.
- old, outmoded, or worn out by long use:
The company is suffering from geriatric factories and manufacturing technologies.
noun
- Often Offensive. an aged person.
geriatric
/ ˌdʒɛrɪˈætrɪk /
adjective
- of or relating to geriatric medicine or to older people
- offensive.(of people or machines) old, obsolescent, worn out, or useless
noun
- old-fashioned.an elderly person
- informal.an older person considered as one who may be disregarded as senile or unable to look after his or her own best interests
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Word History and Origins
Origin of geriatric1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of geriatric1
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Example Sentences
The geriatric guise is the latest instance of people trying to cut the line to get vaccinated from the deadly virus.
Loss of eggs and risks to pregnancy happen gradually over time, not all at once, but 35 is when doctors begin calling pregnancies “geriatric” to reflect increased risks.
Other members said they were reassured by the support of the recommendation from geriatric medicine specialists.
Other members said they were reassured by the support of the recommendation from specialists in geriatric medicine.
Barry Lowenthal, CEO of The Media Kitchen, backed that claim but emphasized that, in describing HuffPost’s audience as older, “I’m not talking geriatric.”
Thanks to the basic dynamics of American politics, the GOP—as white and geriatric as it is—sits well-positioned for success.
But they are right to haul—or wheel—a geriatric SS man present at a notorious, if largely forgotten, massacre into the courtroom.
Right after Girls, she booked an episode of the HBO series Getting On, playing a frail woman in a geriatric ward.
The previous geriatric SCAF that ousted Mubarak after huge protests in February 2011 made a mess of things too.
In spite of their image as bland, geriatric pols, the party elders gave the LDP a sense political heft.
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More About Geriatric
What does geriatric mean?
Geriatric is an adjective that means relating to old age or the care of aged people.
A common use of geriatric is in the phrase geriatric medicine (also called geriatrics), which is the branch of medicine dealing with the care of aged persons.
Although geriatric was once used in the medical field as a noun meaning an older person, that use is now considered offensive. It is also considered offensive when used as an adjective to describe a thing (such as a machine) that’s worn out or useless.
Example: Since older people face unique health risks, it’s important for them to see doctors who specialize in treating geriatric patients.
Where does geriatric come from?
The first records of geriatric in English come from the 1920s. Geriatric is formed from the Greek gēras, meaning “old age” (also seen in gerontology, which is the science of aging) and the suffix –iatric, which means “of or relating to a physician or medicine” (as in pediatrics and bariatric).
Getting old is complicated, and aging comes with a lot of challenges. Some of the common health issues that geriatric patients face include an increased risk of falls, muscle loss and weakness, and gradual or sudden deterioration of mental capacity. But geriatric medicine isn’t just about having older people get extra checkups. Mental health and medical professionals often have additional training to prepare to treat older people, and some even specialize in the care of geriatric patients, often incorporating multiple approaches to treat both physical and mental health.
But not all aged people are frail, and geriatric simply refers to old age—it doesn’t imply illness or poor health. For this reason, using geriatric as a way of saying that someone is physically or mentally feeble is inappropriate.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms of geriatric?
- geriatrics (noun)
What are some synonyms for geriatric?
What are some words that share a root or word element with geriatric?
What are some words that often get used in discussing geriatric?
How is geriatric used in real life?
Geriatric is most often used in the context of the medical care of older persons.
Just applied to Graduate school to pursue my next degree to specialize in Adult Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. :) #BSNtoMSN #excited
— 🇺🇸Jennifer Phelps🇺🇸 (@JPhelpsRN) February 25, 2020
Today , a 15 man team of dental students attended to and treated over 200 geriatric patients in a program organized and sponsored by SEAP.#selflesscause pic.twitter.com/DSclwG2Uxt
— Very good bad boy🤗 (@mickolassurest) February 20, 2020
Sounds silly but my number one career goal is to make a difference in others lives, especially the geriatric population. I want to be able to help as many people as I can and help them achieve there best life possible! #CareerGoal @DrKaylaPeak
— Jennifer Talbert (@JenniferTalbe17) February 24, 2020
Try using geriatric!
Which of the following terms is least likely to be used in relation to geriatric?
A. old age
B. eldercare
C. aging population
D. youth
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