geriatric
geriatric — adjective
1. connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults an
connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults and treating health problems that come with advanced age.
Ada's grandfather receives regular check-ups at the geriatric clinic near their home.
collocation: geriatric clinic
The hospital recently opened a new geriatric ward with wider doors for wheelchairs.
collocation: geriatric ward
Dr. Yan's research in geriatric medicine focuses on fall prevention for patients over eighty.
Nurses in the geriatric unit receive training in dementia care and mobility support.
- pediatric
relating to children, the opposite end of the age spectrum in medicine
用法筆記
Common in medical and healthcare contexts. Use 'geriatric' before nouns such as 'care', 'ward', 'medicine', 'patient', and 'clinic'. This sense is neutral and factual, not pejorative.
常見錯誤
2. describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they see
describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they seem useless or incapable — often used in a dismissive or disrespectful way.
Meera said the geriatric professor could barely remember her own students' names.
dismissive use referring to a person
The school's geriatric heating system broke down every winter without fail.
extended use to objects
Putri rolled her eyes when the geriatric dog fell asleep during its walk.
Adina complained that her geriatric laptop took ages to open a single web page.
用法筆記
Frequently carries a dismissive or disrespectful tone even when applied to objects or machines. Avoid this sense in formal or polite contexts about people. The same sentence can shift meaning depending on context — compare 'geriatric patient' at a hospital (sense 1, neutral) with 'geriatric patient' in casual conversation (sense 2, dismissive).
常見錯誤
geriatric — noun
1. a rude and disrespectful word for an older person, similar in tone to calling so
a rude and disrespectful word for an older person, similar in tone to calling someone a 'geezer' or an 'old codger'.
The teenagers made rude jokes about the geriatrics sitting on the park bench.
countable plural used derogatorily
Calling someone a geriatric is considered offensive in most social situations.
Adaeze told her brother not to use the word geriatric as an insult.
Eliska overheard someone on the bus call her neighbour 'that geriatric across the street'.
- geezer
British slang for an old man, similarly disrespectful
- old codger
informal and mildly mocking, slightly less harsh than 'geriatric'
用法筆記
Likely to cause offence. Similar in impact to 'geezer' or 'old coot' in English. Not appropriate in neutral, respectful, or professional conversation. Even when intended as a joke, listeners may find it hurtful.
常見錯誤
2. a person who is viewed as helpless, physically weak, or mentally slow because of
a person who is viewed as helpless, physically weak, or mentally slow because of old age.
After breaking his hip, the old man felt like a helpless geriatric.
emphasis on helplessness
The film portrayed the character as a geriatric who could not make decisions alone.
Élise hated being treated like a geriatric just because she used a walking stick.
Aylin's grandfather refused to be treated like a geriatric and insisted on walking to the shop alone.
- invalid
focuses on illness or disability rather than age, but carries a similar tone of pity
用法筆記
Carries the same dismissive tone as noun sense 1, with an added implication of physical or mental frailty. Considered insulting in most contexts. Distinguish from the medical adjective sense: a 'geriatric patient' (adjective s1) is neutral medical terminology, but calling someone 'a geriatric' (noun s2) is rude.
常見錯誤
3. the medical field devoted to caring for aging patients and managing the diseases
the medical field devoted to caring for aging patients and managing the diseases that commonly arise in later life — also called geriatrics.
Medical students can specialize in geriatrics during their final year of training.
uncountable: study / specialize in geriatrics
Dr. Yan chose to study geriatrics after watching her grandfather struggle with multiple health issues.
Geriatrics focuses on helping older adults stay independent and maintain a good quality of life.
The medical school has a separate department of geriatrics with its own research wing and clinic.
- gerontology
broader study of aging as a social and biological process, not just medical treatment
- pediatrics
the medical specialty focusing on children
用法筆記
The medical specialty is typically called 'geriatrics' (plural in form, singular in meaning — takes a singular verb). The headword 'geriatric' can be used as an uncountable noun referring to this field, but 'geriatrics' is far more common in practice.