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

In front of them were younger generations of mothers and daughters, who’ll tell their own Summit tales three or four decades from now. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026

This means more local exposure and helps vines that have been in the ground for decades continue to grow for generations. —Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

The resulting opportunities led many women to marry later and have fewer children, patterns that would endure in later generations. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026

It has also been viewed by many as an allegorical commentary on first century Christianity and Rome, and has been seen as an impending apocalyptic prophecy by generations ever since. —City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026

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
• silent generation
• spontaneous generation
• sub-generation

Rhymes for generation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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