generation

noun

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

Other Words from generation Example Sentences Learn More about generation

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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

And solar generation panels have gotten far more affordable. — Cotton Codinha, Allure, "7 Influential People on Environmental Advocacy in the Beauty Industry," 22 Apr. 2019 There is also another option that costs $39.99 a month to watch live TV online and on iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV & Fire Stick, Apple TV (4th generation), LG (select TVs), Nintendo Switch, Chromecast, Xbox One & Xbox 360, and Samsung (select TVs). — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'This Is Us' Season 4 Sounds Like It's Going to Be a REALLY Hard One for Fans," 19 Mar. 2019 One generation’s eyesore, though, is another’s treat, and now brutalism is experiencing a resurgence. — Lauren Ho, Condé Nast Traveler, "Architectural Reboot: The Return of Brutalism," 20 Dec. 2018 The decision by Intel removes a major rival to Qualcomm for a critical component in the new generation of mobile handsets expected to dominate the market over the next several years. — Asa Fitch, WSJ, "Intel to Stop Making Modem Chips for 5G Smartphones," 16 Apr. 2019 Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 also appear for the first time in this generation, HP said. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "HP's EliteBook 800 G6 notebook series adds convenience, privacy features," 16 Apr. 2019 The country singer's first son holds a special place in his heart, as Memphis is the first boy in this generation of his family. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr's Children," 6 Apr. 2019 But growing up in a different generation is hardly an excuse for policing women’s clothing choices and perpetuating the idea that men can’t help themselves. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "It’s 2019—Why Are We Still Debating the Appropriateness of Leggings?," 29 Mar. 2019 The engineers in mission control must be a different generation now, the children of those who sent me on this journey. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "The Tourist's Guide to Space," 12 Mar. 2019

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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