sandwich generation

noun

: a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children

Examples of sandwich generation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As a sandwich generation caregiver in the 1980s, Smith was raising her three children while also caring for her mom, whose cognitive health deteriorated while living with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023 For the sandwich generation, senior resources can make all the difference in a community. Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 14 June 2023 For years, the term sandwich generation has generally been applied to adults (mostly women) taking care of their aging parents and their minor children at the same time. Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023 More companies expanded benefits to better support the sandwich generation—those caring for both children and elderly parents. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2022 Providing a modern package of benefits that acknowledges caregivers in the workforce, especially sandwich generation employees (those taking care of both children and parents), will prevent many workers from having to choose between caring for a loved one and staying on the job. Elana Berkowitz, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2023 The reality of being a member of the sandwich generation, coupled with being an executive and people leader, has shown me nearly every broken part of our system, from our healthcare system to our childcare and caregiving system to our workforce norms. Gary Drenik, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 Wounded veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are part of the sandwich generation, being cared for by a spouse while at home with younger children, or perhaps living in their childhood home with an aging parent who is more vulnerable to infection. Lee Woodruff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2020 The concept of the sandwich generation needs to change, said Patty David, vice president of consumer insights at AARP. Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sandwich generation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sandwich generation was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near sandwich generation

Cite this Entry

“Sandwich generation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sandwich%20generation. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!