Senior citizen
Encyclopedia
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person
in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK English and retiree and senior in US English. Some dictionaries describe widespread usage of "senior citizen" for people over the age of 65. "Senior citizen" is replacing the term old-age pensioner traditionally used in UK English.
When defined in an official context, "senior citizen" is often used for legal or policy-related reasons in determining who is eligible for certain benefits available to the age group.
It is used in general usage instead of traditional terms such as "old person", "old-age pensioner", or "elderly" as a courtesy and to signify continuing relevance of and respect for this population group as "citizens" of society, of "senior" rank.
The term was apparently coined in 1938 during a political campaign. It has come into widespread use in recent decades in legislation, commerce, and common speech. Especially in less formal contexts, it is often abbreviated as "senior(s)", which is also used as an adjective
.
In commerce, businesses often offer "senior discount
s", sometimes with a special "senior discount card".
s or medical benefits for the elderly become available. In commercial contexts, where it may serve as a marketing
device to attract customers, the age is often significantly lower.
In the United States
, the standard retirement age is currently 65 (gradually increasing to 67).
The AARP
allows couples in which one spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of the age of the younger spouse.
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK English and retiree and senior in US English. Some dictionaries describe widespread usage of "senior citizen" for people over the age of 65. "Senior citizen" is replacing the term old-age pensioner traditionally used in UK English.
When defined in an official context, "senior citizen" is often used for legal or policy-related reasons in determining who is eligible for certain benefits available to the age group.
It is used in general usage instead of traditional terms such as "old person", "old-age pensioner", or "elderly" as a courtesy and to signify continuing relevance of and respect for this population group as "citizens" of society, of "senior" rank.
The term was apparently coined in 1938 during a political campaign. It has come into widespread use in recent decades in legislation, commerce, and common speech. Especially in less formal contexts, it is often abbreviated as "senior(s)", which is also used as an adjective
Adjective
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
.
In commerce, businesses often offer "senior discount
Senior Discount
Senior Discount is a punk rock band based out of Warren, Rhode Island. In addition to playing music, the band is also highly involved in the production of film...
s", sometimes with a special "senior discount card".
Qualifying age
The age which qualifies for senior citizen status varies widely. In governmental contexts it is usually associated with an age at which pensionPension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s or medical benefits for the elderly become available. In commercial contexts, where it may serve as a marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
device to attract customers, the age is often significantly lower.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the standard retirement age is currently 65 (gradually increasing to 67).
The AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
allows couples in which one spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of the age of the younger spouse.