generation

noun

gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor

b

: a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously

the younger generation

c

: a group of individuals having contemporaneously a status (such as that of students in a school) which each one holds only for a limited period

d

: a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type

first of the … new generation of powerful supersonic fighters

—Kenneth Koyen

2

a

: the action or process of producing offspring : procreation

b

: the process of coming or bringing into being

generation of income

c

: origination by a generating process : production

especially : formation of a geometric figure by motion of another

3

: the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring

generational

ˌje-nə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

generationally

ˌje-nə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nə-lē 

adverb

Examples of generation in a Sentence

She was worshipped by a generation of moviegoers.

He was a hero to generations of students.

We need to preserve these resources for future generations.

His books are popular among members of the younger generation.

That family has lived in the same house for four generations.

The house has been passed down in the family from generation to generation.

He has held that position for a generation.

No one dreamed that such things would be possible a generation ago.

The company claims to be developing the next generation of portable computers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The younger generation in men’s tennis is making quite an impression on the older guys. —Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

America would be responsible for creating an entire generation of immigrants in foster care. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Because land is power, and because settler populations took the land, those racial hierarchies remain for generations and leave indelible marks on society. —Michael Albertus, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025

With over 65 film credits, nine Academy Award nominations (including two wins) and more than 270 accolades across a 45-year career, Denzel Washington is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English generacioun "procreation, development, offspring, lineage," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French generacion, borrowed from Late Latin generātiōn-, generātiō, going back to Latin, "procreation," from generāre "to bring into being, generate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing generation

• filial generation
• generation gap
• inter-generation
• next generation
• sandwich generation
• sexual generation
• spontaneous generation
• sub-generation

Kids Definition

generation

noun

gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: those being a step in a line from one ancestor

a family that has lived in the same house for four generations

b

: a group of individuals born and living at the same time

c

: a type or class of objects developed from an earlier type

2

: the average length of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring

3

: the action or process of generating

generational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

generation

noun

gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor

b

: a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously

2

: the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring

3

: the action or process of producing offspring : procreation

generational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective