noun
senility
suh-NIH-lih-tee
noun
1
The mental and physical decline that can come with old age.
"The novel is a moving portrait of senility and memory loss."
How to Use Senility
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state of experiencing age-related mental decline.
When to use it
A somewhat dated or blunt term; "dementia" is now the more common clinical word.
Easily confused with
senescence
Word Forms
senilities plural
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The novel is a moving portrait of _____ and memory loss.
Etymology
Formed from senile plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.