nonagenarian

English

Etymology

From Latin nōnāgēnārius (“containing ninety”) + -an (“forming adjectives and representative nouns”), either directly or via French nonagénaire, from nonageni (“ninety each”) + -arius (“-ary”), from nonaginta (“nine tens, ninety”).

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈˌnɑnəd͡ʒɪˈnɛriən/, /ˈˌnoʊnəd͡ʒɪˈnɛriən/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌnɒnəd͡ʒɪˈnɛːrɪən/, /ˌnəʊnəd͡ʒɪˈnɛːrɪən/

Noun

nonagenarian (plural nonagenarians)

Synonym of ninetysomething: a person between 90 and 99 years old.

Adjective

nonagenarian (not comparable)

Of or related to ninetysomethings.
Coordinate terms: vicenarian, tricenarian, quadragenarian, quinquagenarian, semicentenarian, hexagenerian, sexagenarian, septuagenarian, octogenarian, centenarian, semisupercentenarian, supercentenarian
- 1954, Alben W. Barkley, editor, That Reminds Me‎, Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, LCCN 54-10775, OCLC 1222881612, OL 6156719M, page 17:
  "But what’s that got to do with your health and longevity?" the neighbor inquired.
  "Why," said the nonagenarian, "I've spent most of my life in the open air."

Translations

related to ninetysomething year olds

Hungarian: kilencvenes (éveiben járó), kilencvenvalahány éves, kilencvenedik születésnapját betöltött
Icelandic: níræður (is)
Old Norse: nírœðr

References

“nonagenarian, n. and adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.