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

Every six to eight years, give or take, a new generation could see Pinocchio or Snow White on the big screen. — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 5 July 2026

The family home has been in the Spencer family for generations, and she was buried on the property. — Christopher Luu, InStyle, 5 July 2026

Norway hadn’t made the World Cup for nearly three decades, until Haaland and this generation of Norwegians came along. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026

Future generations opening the capsule in 2276 will likely find the device unusable due to several factors. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 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