Table of Contents
Definition of Geriatrics
(noun) The branch of medicine that focuses on the elderly, specifically health and wellness through the prevention and treatment of disability and disease.
Geriatrics Pronunciation
Syllabification: ger·i·at·rics
Audio Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
- American English – /jair-ee-A-triks/
- British English – /je-ri-A-triks/
International Phonetic Alphabet
- American English – /ˌʤɛriˈætrɪks/
- British English – /dʒɛrɪˈatrɪks/
Usage Notes
- Geriatrics and gerontology are often used interchangeably but geriatrics refer specifically to the health and wellness of older individuals and gerontology studies the aging process (senescence) in a broader sense.
- A (noun) geriatrician studies (adjective) geriatric issues.
Additional Information
- Aging and Social Gerontology Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Death and Dying Research Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Medical Sociology Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Word origin of “geriatrics” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
Related Terms
- activity theory
- aging
- continuity theory
- disengagement theory
- gerotranscendence
- life expectancy
- primary aging
- secondary aging
- senescence
- social gerontology
- thanatology
Cite the Definition of Geriatrics
ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “geriatrics.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 24, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/).
APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)
geriatrics. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “geriatrics.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“geriatrics.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/>.