generation

noun

gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce generation (audio)
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 fightersKenneth 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 adjective
generationally 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 ambitious newcomer talks her way into Lee’s next mission, driving with reporter Joel (Walter Moura) and veteran political journalist Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) to D.C. to interview the president — three generations of journos with very different agendas. Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 In the newest generation of large language models, these guidelines can become impressively complicated. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Many of these pubs in Ireland have been passed down through generations. Carson Terbush, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 That seedling grew into what would become the music video, in which Wexler harnessed the positive powers of AI to create four generations of Joels that would pick off after another. Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Our interpretation of James’ work also reflects this young generation, whose tastes and references have changed so dramatically from the original film. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2024 The spirit of the album immediately began inspiring the next generation, and today their influence is claimed by alternative acts such as Bomba Estéreo and Monsieur Periné, both of whom draw on uniquely Colombian musical styles. Beverly Bryan, SPIN, 14 Mar. 2024 Noticing that younger generations don't sound so Southern anymore? Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2024 Both are about wealthy, powerful families and the next generation's struggle for control. Emily Blackwood, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'generation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of generation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near generation

Cite this Entry

“Generation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

generation

noun
gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce generation (audio)
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 How to pronounce generation (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

generation

noun
gen·​er·​a·​tion ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce generation (audio)
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 adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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