Generation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən/ gen·er·a·tion

Meaning & Definition of Generation

Generation (noun)

  1. a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor
  2. a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously
  3. 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

Generation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or instance of producing something

    "Our economy relies on the generation of new ideas."

    "The organization has turned its focus toward the generation of solar energy."

    similar: creation, genesis, nascency, origination, production, rise, innovation, invention, construction, development, fabrication, formation, birth, conception

  2. a group or class of things that are developed from an earlier type

    "The automaker is set to release the newest generation of electric vehicles."

    similar: branch, section, sort, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety, bracket, category, class, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type

  3. the length of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their children

    "She has been at the job for a generation, and is seen as a motherly figure to her younger coworkers."

    similar: age, day, epoch, era, period, time, cycle, year, bit, space, span, spell, stretch, while, date, vintage

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Generation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Generation:

creation, genesis, nascency, origination, production, rise, innovation, invention, construction, development, fabrication, formation, birth, conception, branch, section, sort, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety, bracket, category, class, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type

Word Forms of Generation

Derived words: generational (adjective), generationally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Generation

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: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Generation

Words & Phrases Containing Generation

Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z, generation gap, filial generation, next-generation, sandwich generation, sexual generation, Silent Generation

Frequently Asked Questions about Generation

What does "Generation" mean?

"Generation" means a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor. As a noun, it is defined as: a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Generation"?

Other words for "Generation" include creation, genesis, nascency, origination, production, rise, innovation and invention. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Generation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Generation"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Generation". Common alternatives include creation, genesis, nascency, origination, production, rise, innovation, invention, construction and development.

How do you use "Generation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Generation" in a sentence: "Our economy relies on the generation of new ideas."; "The organization has turned its focus toward the generation of solar energy."; "The automaker is set to release the newest generation of electric vehicles.".

Is "Generation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Generation" is a noun.

Is "Generation" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Generation"?

"Generation" is pronounced /ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən/ and divided into syllables as gen·er·a·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Generation"?

"Generation" comes from 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: 14th century.