What do you call someone in their 70s slang?

What’s the Slang for Someone in Their 70s?

Technically, someone in their 70s is called a septuagenarian—a word that sounds more like it belongs in a medical textbook than in casual conversation. It’s derived from Latin, where “septuaginta” means seventy, and it’s the go-to term if you want to be precise. But let’s be honest: most people don’t throw “septuagenarian” around at backyard barbecues.

In everyday American slang, you’re more likely to hear phrases like “in their seventh decade” or just “mid-70s,” often followed by a joke about retirement, hearing aids, or how young people these days don’t know how to use a phone that has a cord. Pop culture has softened the label—think of sharp-witted grandmas on TikTok or silver-haired action heroes who still “got it.”

Still, “septuagenarian” has its place—especially when you’re aiming for that blend of accuracy and dry humor. It’s the kind of word that makes people pause, then nod, as if to say, “Well, technically correct.” And while it might not roll off the tongue as easily as “grandpa” or “75 going on 45,” it carries a quiet dignity. After all, surviving seven decades is no small feat.

So whether you're describing your sharp-as-ever grandfather or just brushing up on vocabulary, “septuagenarian” is the proper term—with a slightly formal flair. But in real life? Most folks will just say, “He’s in his 70s and still riding a motorcycle.” And really, that says it all.