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 October 2, 2023 (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 October 2, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“geriatrics.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 2 Oct. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/geriatrics/>.