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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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 Yeun—who if nominated for a best actor Oscar for his role in the film would be the first Asian-American to achieve that honor—has quickly become one of the most compelling actors of his generation through relentless reinvention. — Alex Bhattacharji, WSJ, "‘Walking Dead’ Actor Steven Yeun on His ‘Minari’ Breakout," 11 Jan. 2021 To some extent, each new generation is shocked to learn that leaders lie and that people believe them. — New York Times, "The Art of the Lie? The Bigger the Better," 10 Jan. 2021 The younger generation today, which will be the dominant makeup of voters in the not too distant future, is much more diverse. — Anil Ananthaswamy, Smithsonian Magazine, "How the Belief in American Exceptionalism Has Shaped the Pandemic Response," 18 Dec. 2020 What's more, a generation of older cops who joined the profession during hiring sprees in the 1990s are ready to retire. — Majlie De Puy Kamp, CNN, "The year of reckoning: How 2020 revealed the fault lines in American policing," 18 Dec. 2020 Now a whole new generation of fans will get to enjoy these old classics with their parents along for the ride. — Sonia Ramirez, Chron, "Saturday morning cartoons are making a comeback in 2021," 16 Dec. 2020 Whether such hoopla counts as a happy ending or as a reckless lie—whether the kids should be granted their fun, or whether the next generation of inebriates is already in training for its own destruction—is open to debate. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, "Planned Alcoholism in “Another Round” and Weaponized Camp in “The Prom”," 11 Dec. 2020 At the end, clients — including Global Affairs Canada, Penguin Random House Canada, and seven major law firms — get a report on how to move forward, hopefully into a future the next generation can be proud of. — refinery29.com, "The 29 Canadian Game-Changers Who Got Us Through 2020," 7 Dec. 2020 If America’s current generation of policymakers is successful, then most Americans in their day-to-day lives will have no reason to know about these islands, except perhaps as exotic tourist locations. — David Sauer, Star Tribune, "Remember the price we paid in the Pacific," 4 Dec. 2020

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.