Gerontocracies

/ˌdʒɛrɑnˈtɑkrəsiz/ noun

Definition

The plural of gerontocracy; multiple governments or societies ruled by elderly people or in which the elderly hold most of the power.

Etymology

From gerontocracy (Greek 'geron' + Greek 'kratia' meaning rule or power) + '-ies' plural. Describes political systems where age equals authority.

Kelly Says

Modern democracies accidentally become gerontocracies as politicians gain seniority and voters age—the U.S. Senate shows this perfectly, with lifetime tenure keeping elderly people in power decades past typical retirement.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.