An elder vs Old person

Both 'an elder' and 'old person' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'An elder' is typically used to refer to someone who is older and respected within a community or group, while 'old person' is a more general term to describe someone who is advanced in age.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 943 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to someone who is older and respected within a community or group.

"An elder"

Use 'an elder' when referring to someone who holds a position of authority or respect within a community or group.

Examples:

The elders of the tribe gathered to discuss the issue.
She sought advice from the village elder.

Show examples from the web [+]

An elder needs your diagnosis within the hour.
An elder statesman of a lost culture.
Soph, you can't just become an elder.
And one day, you will become an elder, your birthright.
Ripp's an elder in the church.
His father was an elder of the Sons of Mithras, devoted to the Book of...
"An elder from the line of David... would impregnate a young girl to preserve the bloodline".
You're an elder statesman, Edward.
Which is precisely why the Awakening is performed by an elder.
When you see an elder, you must first pay your respects.
Kenichi Okubo, an elder of the underworld, acted as go-between.
And one day you will become an elder, your birthright.
He's an elder, and we're old friends.
I'm a needy boy wrapped in the garb of an elder statesman.
She would have been more powerful than an elder, any Harvest girl.
Because when an elder dies a library is burned,
I'm an elder with Mu Jin Church and a devoted Christian.
Because when an elder dies a library is burned, and throughout the world, libraries are ablaze.
And in the village also, there is one chief, an elder, who if he says yes, everybody will follow him.
He's an elder of the Cree nation and a warrior.

Alternatives:

a senior member
a respected figure
a leader

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe someone who is advanced in age.

"Old person"

Use 'old person' in a general context to refer to someone who is elderly.

Examples:

The park bench was occupied by an old person feeding pigeons.
She helped the old person cross the street.

Show examples from the web [+]

So I need to find an old person who's still sharp so I can ask them what they did right.
And here I was, expecting I would have to talk to some old person.
When you watch an old person sleeping...
No one minds when you kill an old person.
Written by an old person, I think.
Because yesterday we let an old person go in there.
I was the only old person there, Morty.
If an old person falls, we must help.
It's the perfect old person's murder weapon.
There might be an "old person" inside.
He's an old person, and I'll talk to him really slowly.
Last time we scared an old person, Larry had a heart attack.
I'm guessing an old person 'cause the eyes are low and swinging and drooping, but in a way that makes me hard.
I have a school assignment where we have to get the stories and wisdom of an old person.
How loves a rotten old person?
Because it's a small town funeral it'll be like one for an old person.
I go outside and see an old person and it hurts me.
I learned on the force that if you punch an old person's head from the correct angle, their skull pretty much turns to powder.
She gave up her seat for the old person.
That means that all those old people are more of a burden on the few young people, and that each old person has less individual value.

Alternatives:

elderly individual
senior citizen
aged person

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An elder vs Old person

"An elder"

"Old person"

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