gerontocracy

noun

ger·​on·​toc·​ra·​cy ˌjer-ən-ˈtä-krə-sē 

plural gerontocracies

1

: government or control (as of a nation or organization) by people who are old

… a world … dogged by gerontocracy, one where the levers of political and economic power are firmly in the hands of unmovable boomers …

—Gian M. Volpicelli

2

: one that is governed or controlled by a gerontocracy

… the Vatican remains a gerontocracy where leadership is reserved for the elders …

—Martina Devlin

3

: the people who govern or control in a gerontocracy

… represents a diverse and disproportionately young coalition of voters but is led by a largely white gerontocracy.

—Andrew O'Hehir

gerontocrat

jə-ˈrän-tə-ˌkrat 

noun

gerontocratic

jə-ˌrän-tə-ˈkra-tik 

adjective

Examples of gerontocracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the May issue of The Atlantic, Idrees Kahloon examines America’s gerontocracy problem. —Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

Is America today just a case of gerontocracy by tacit consent? —Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

Republicans and Democrats are both committed to upholding the entitlement status quo, creating a bipartisan consensus that further entrenches a powerful gerontocracy. —Aidan Grogan, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2026

In an era of gerontocracy and career politicians, Platner, the 40-year-old oysterman, is a breath of fresh air on the national political stage. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French gérontocratie, from géronto- geronto- + -cratie -cracy

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gerontocracy

• aristocracy
• meritocracy
• autocracy
• bureaucracy
• democracy
• hypocrisy
• plutocracy
• theocracy