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

But there was something even more significant: For a generation, conservatives — not just the far right, which Crusius appeared to identify with — had propelled the notion that climate change was a hoax fabricated so the government could impose new restrictions on the economy and society.

From Salon

Petticrew, 28, is a “ceasefire baby,” part of a generation that grew up during a fragile peace but still grapples with social division, economic inequality and intergenerational trauma.

From Los Angeles Times

"I am only young, there will be new programmes for me to watch, but I worry about the older generation who depend on the familiarity of the show," said Ms Ashby.

From BBC

Canada has set strict rules for the sale of its uranium to other countries, Prof Piro said, and mandates it only be used for nuclear power generation.

From BBC

As the annual tradition of pre-holidays “cuffing season” begins, “I’m finding people in my generation don’t even know what that is. I’m trying to explain it to them,” she says of the dating trend.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• day
• era
• period
• time