generation

[ jen-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time:

   the postwar generation.

2. the average span of years between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring, reckoned in accordance with various disciplines, as in human population studies, which typically cite a generational range as 20–35 years, and in the classification of Generations X, Y, and Z, which loosely frame periods of 15–20 years:

   Her photo layout shows the hairstyle trends among young men over the past four generations.

3. a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc. Compare Beat Generation, Lost Generation.
4. a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time:

   Chaplin belonged to the generation of silent-screen stars.

5. a single step in natural descent, as of human beings, animals, or plants.
6. a form, type, class, etc., of objects existing at the same time and having many similarities or developed from a common model or ancestor (often used in combination):

   a new generation of anticancer drugs;

   a third-generation phone.

7. the offspring of a certain parent or couple, considered as a step in natural descent.
8. the act or process of generating or bringing into being; production, manufacture, or procreation.
9. the state of being generated.
10. production by natural or artificial processes; evolution, as of heat or sound.
11. Biology.
    1. one complete life cycle.
    2. one of the alternate phases that complete a life cycle having more than one phase:

       the gametophyte generation.

12. Mathematics. the production of a geometrical figure by the motion of another figure.
13. Physics. one of the successive sets of nuclei produced in a chain reaction.
14. (in duplicating processes, as photocopying, film, etc.) the distance in duplicating steps that a copy is from the original work.

generation

/ ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of bringing into being; production or reproduction, esp of offspring
2. 1. a successive stage in natural descent of organisms: the time between when an organism comes into being and when it reproduces
   2. the individuals produced at each stage
3. the normal or average time between two such generations of a species: about 35 years for humans
4. a phase or form in the life cycle of a plant or animal characterized by a particular type of reproduction

   the gametophyte generation

5. all the people of approximately the same age, esp when considered as sharing certain attitudes, etc
6. production of electricity, heat, etc
7. physics a set of nuclei formed directly from a preceding set in a chain reaction
8. modifier, in combination
   1. belonging to a generation specified as having been born in or as having parents, grandparents, etc, born in a given country

      a third-generation American

   2. belonging to a specified stage of development in manufacture, usually implying improvement

      a second-generation computer

generation

/ jĕn′ə-rā′shən /

1. 1. All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor.
   2. The average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.
2. A form or stage in the life cycle of an organism.
3. See more at alternation of generations
4. The formation of a line or geometric figure by the movement of a point or line.

Derived Forms

• ˌgenerˈational, adjective

Other Words From

• gen·er·a·tion·al adjective
• gen·er·a·tion·al·ly adverb
• in·ter·gen·er·a·tion noun
• pre·gen·er·a·tion noun
• sub·gen·er·a·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of generation¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English generacioun, from Middle French, from Latin generātiōn- (stem of generātiō ); generate, -ion

Example Sentences

"This approach to learning contributes to what we call 'cumulative culture' -- the ability to build on existing knowledge and pass it down through generations," Hewlett said.

From Science Daily

The population of the white-backed vulture, for example, declined by around 90 percent in just three generations -- equivalent to an average decline of 4 percent per year.

From Science Daily

In addition, the older generation increased by about 42,500 people, accounting for 37.1% of the total population.

From Science Daily

However, pedigrees are recorded manually, and they may go back only a few generations.

From Science Daily

He added that benefit rises linked to having children had gone up by less than pension payments, adding: "Inequality is generational, and the generation that experiences it the most are the young".

From BBC

Related Words

• day
• era
• period
• time