generation

noun

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gen·er·a·tion | \ ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of generation

1a : 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

2a : 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

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Other Words from generation

generational \ ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shnəl

, -shə-nᵊl \ adjective

generationally \ ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shnə-lē

, shə-nᵊl-ē \ 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 Pathfinder starts at $34,560, an increase of $1430 over the previous generation. — Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 9 June 2021 The Democrats hold a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in more than a generation. — Washington Post, 9 June 2021 Senate Bill 3 requires the weatherization of power generation facilities, natural gas facilities and transmission facilities to handle extreme weather with fines up to $1 million, according to FOX 4 in Dallas. — Fox News, 9 June 2021 In effect, an entire generation of managers that came of age in an era of abundant workers is being forced to learn how to operate amid labor scarcity. — Neil Irwin New York Times, Star Tribune, 8 June 2021 The latest generation of EVs, many with ranges around 300 miles (480 kilometers) per charge, can accept electricity at a much faster rate than previous models could. — Tom Krisher, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2021 Now, beloved movies are being revamped for a younger generation, throwback TV series are hitting streaming services and era-defining fashion items are making a comeback. — J'na Jefferson, USA TODAY, 5 June 2021 For a little more than 10 years, the Women in the Arts event has raised more than $1.3 million for apprenticeships, fellowships and internships for the next generation of arts managers and producers. — Hannah Herrera Greenspan, chicagotribune.com, 4 June 2021 But Hugh’s idea was to create a movement for the next generation—an idea where millions of young, like-minded people could wield a lot of power and get the attention of our world leaders. — Julia Gillard, Town & Country, 2 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'generation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for generation

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

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