Definition

1. Noun:
   • The time of life between 90 and 100 years old: This term refers to the period or age range within a person's lifespan, specifically the years from 90 up to (but not including) 100.
   • The middle years of the ninth decade of life: It denotes the central portion of a person's tenth decade, often implying the years around 93 to 97.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Her grandmother remained remarkably active throughout her mid-nineties.
  • Reaching one's mid-nineties is a significant milestone that few achieve.

Advanced Usage

• "well into one's mid-nineties": Used to emphasize that someone is not just beginning this age period but is advancing through it.
  • The former president remained lucid and engaged well into his mid-nineties.

Variants and Related Words

• Nineties (n): The decade of life between 90 and 99 years old. (e.g., )
• Nonagenarian (n): A person who is between 90 and 99 years old.

Synonyms

• Advanced old age: A general term for being very old.
• The tenth decade: A more formal way to reference the period from ages 90 to 99.

Notes on Meaning

This term is specifically about age. It should not be confused with references to the historical decade (the 1990s), which would be written as "mid-1990s" or "mid-'90s". The hyphenated form "mid-nineties" almost exclusively refers to the age range.

Noun

1. the time of life between 90 and 100