geriatrics

G2E1R1I1A1T1R1I1C3S1

noun

The branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. The term itself can be distinguished from gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself.

Similar
gerontology
OriginAncient Greek γῆρας →
Less commonScrabble 13
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Meanings

geriatrics1

noungeriatrics (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineThe branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. The term itself can be distinguished from gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself.

geriatrics2

noun
  1. pluralplural of geriatric

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe branch of medical science that deals with diseases and problems specific to old people

Similar
gerontology
Broader
medicinemedical specialty
Also see
geriatrygerontology

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγῆρας“old age”
  2. Englishgeriatrics

From Ancient Greek γῆρας (gêras, “old age”) (see γέρων (gérōn)) + ἰατρός (iatrós, “physician”); coined in English in 1909 by Ignatz L. Nascher in the New York Medical Journal on the model of pediatrics; correct formation would be gerontiatrics. Compare gerontology.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan geriatria
  • geriatriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Chinese Mandarin 老年病學 /老年病学, 老年醫學 /老年医学
  • 老年病學 /老年病学 (lǎoniánbìngxué)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
  • 老年醫學 /老年医学 (lǎoniányīxué)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Dutch geriatrie
  • geriatriebranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Esperanto geriatrio, maljunulmedicino
  • geriatriobranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
  • maljunulmedicinobranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Finnish geriatria
  • geriatriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
French gériatrie
  • gériatriebranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
German Geriatrie
  • Geriatriebranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Greek γηριατρική
  • γηριατρική (giriatrikí)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Hungarian geriátria
  • geriátriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Indonesian geriatri
  • geriatribranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Irish geiriaitric
  • geiriaitricbranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Italian geriatria
  • geriatriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Japanese 老人医学
  • 老人医学 (rōjinigaku)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Korean 노인병학, 노인의학
  • 노인병학 (noinbyeonghak)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
  • 노인의학 (noinuihak)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Malay geriatrik
  • geriatrikbranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Polish geriatria
  • geriatriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Portuguese geriatria
  • geriatriabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Russian гериатри́я
  • гериатри́я (geriatríja)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Spanish geriatría
  • geriatríabranch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Ukrainian геріатрі́я
  • геріатрі́я (heriatríja)branch of medicine dealing with the elderly
Cite this entry
APA

geriatrics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geriatrics

MLA

“geriatrics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geriatrics. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “geriatrics,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geriatrics.

Source: geriatrics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.