A person between the ages of 50 and 59 is called a quinquagenarian. This term is used to describe someone in their fifties.
Understanding Age Terminology
Several sources confirm the term "quinquagenarian" for individuals aged 50-59. This is consistent with the Latin roots; "quinqua" meaning five and "genarian" referring to tens. Other age ranges have similar designations:
- Sexagenarian: 60-69 years old
- Septuagenarian: 70-79 years old
- Octogenarian: 80-89 years old
While "middle age" is a common phrase, it lacks the precision of terms like quinquagenarian and is subjective, varying across cultures and individuals. The term "middle age" is often associated with the period after young adulthood but before old age, generally placing it somewhere between 40 and 65. Specific age ranges like the 50s are more clearly defined using the terminology mentioned above.
The 50th birthday itself is sometimes referred to as a Golden Jubilee. This term is more celebratory and less commonly used in a purely descriptive way like "quinquagenarian." In certain contexts, people in their 50s might be part of broader generational groups like "Baby Boomers" (a cohort encompassing those born between roughly 1946 and 1964, which overlaps with the age range in question).
Some studies, like the one mentioned from the World Economic Forum, might use age ranges like 35-50 for grouping purposes within larger analyses of generational identity; however, the term "quinquagenarian" remains the precise designation for individuals aged 50-59.
