A standard answer belittled old people (7)
I believe the answer is:
normans
'belittled old people' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a standard answer' is the wordplay.
'a standard' becomes 'norm' (norm is a kind of standard).
'answer' becomes 'ans' (abbreviation for answer).
'norm'+'ans'='NORMANS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for normans that I've seen before include "Ten sixty six invaders" , "French folk" , "They won the battle of Hastings" , "Invaders in 1066" , "Our last successful invaders" .)