age-group
UK[ˈeɪdʒ ɡruːp]US[ˈeɪdʒ ɡruːp]
n
A group of people of a similar age, often considered as a category for statistical or social purposes.
Morpheme Breakdown
age
group
age
time of life
group
collection
Etymology
The compound "age-group" is a modern English formation that logically combines two established nouns to create a specific demographic category. The first element, "age," traces its lineage to the Latin aetās, which carried the core meaning of "lifetime" or "period," a concept that has remained remarkably stable. The second element, "group," entered English via French and Italian, with its ultimate Germanic root conveying the sense of a rounded mass or cluster. When fused, these morphemes transparently construct the concept of a cluster or collection defined by a shared period of life, reflecting a societal need to classify populations for study, marketing, or social organization.
Analysis
Structure: age (time of life) + group (collection)
- age: From Old French aage, eage, from Vulgar Latin aetāticum, from Latin aetās (age, lifetime). Functions as a noun indicating a period of life.
- group: From French groupe, from Italian gruppo, of Germanic origin; related to crop. Functions as a noun meaning a number of people or things classed together.
Examples
The survey collected data from different age-groups.
Children are usually placed in classes with their own age-group.
Marketing strategies often target a specific age-group.