generation

1 of 2

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

generational

2 of 2

adjective

gen·​er·​a·​tion·​al ¦jenə¦rāshənᵊl 

-shnəl

1

: of or relating to generation

generational sterility

2

: of or relating to a generation or to the relations between generations

an example of a generational … difference in language

—Paul Schach

generationally adverb

In every other way he is so different from his father, so generationally and culturally distant, that the gap might as well be interplanetary.

—Robert Sabbag, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 1995

Examples of generation in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

Gabe Gay is the second generation of his family to lead the Montgomery County program. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 20 July 2026

Kuwait said Iran hit a power generation and water desalination plant. — Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

For it to be applied to actual electrical generation, researchers still need to overcome obstacles such as overall conversion efficiency. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

Torrence would eventually reunite with an impaired Berry after the 1978 TV movie Deadman’s Curve introduced their saga to a new generation. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

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