Gerontocracy
/ˌdʒɛr.ənˈtɒk.rə.si/noun
A form of government or social organization in which power is held by older people, especially elders.
Did you know?In ancient Sparta, the gerousia was a powerful council of elders, and its name comes from the same Greek root meaning “old man” or “elder.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵerh₂-
“To become old or mature”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gérōn (γέρων)
“An old man or elder”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gérōn plus -kratía
“Rule or power exercised by elders”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gerousía (γερουσία)
“A council of elders, especially the Spartan governing council”
19th Century
English
gerontocracy
“Government by elders or old men”
Modern English
English
gerontocracy
“A system in which older people hold dominant political or institutional power”
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