Generation
ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən
Definitions
3 meaningsA group of people born and living during the same period, typically considered as a unit based on shared experiences and cultural influences.
ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən
A group of people born and living at about the same time.
The younger generation often has different views on politics.
💡 Simply: Think of it like a big group of people who grew up around the same time and share similar experiences, like kids who are in the same grade in school. Your parents are a different generation than you!
👶 For kids: A generation is a group of people who are about the same age, like your parents and grandparents!
More Examples
The generation that lived through the Great Depression showed remarkable resilience.
How It's Used
"The millennial generation is known for its technological savviness."
"Three generations of our family attended the reunion."
The process of bringing something into existence, creating, or producing something, whether a physical entity or an abstract concept.
ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən
The act of producing or creating something.
The company focuses on the generation of renewable energy.
💡 Simply: It's the process of making or producing something. Like when a machine makes electricity or when a creative person comes up with a new idea.
👶 For kids: When you make something, like drawing a picture or making a building, that's kind of like generation!
More Examples
The artist was inspired by the generation of light from the sunset.
How It's Used
"The generation of electricity is crucial for modern society."
"The generation of new ideas is essential for innovation."
A step in the line of descent of a family; the people of a particular age.
ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən
A single stage in the history of a family.
The family farm has been passed down through several generations.
💡 Simply: It’s a step in a family's history, like parents, grandparents, and children. Each group is a different generation.
👶 For kids: Each group of people in a family, like parents and kids!
More Examples
There were three generations of family members at the celebration
How It's Used
"The family history spanned multiple generations."
"Each generation of the plant produced different colors of flowers"
Idioms & expressions
the lost generation
A term referring to the generation that came of age during World War I and, by extension, the post-war generation.
"The novels of Ernest Hemingway often depicted the disillusionment of the lost generation."
From Latin generatio, meaning 'a begetting, breeding, race, kind, or class', derived from the verb generare, meaning 'to beget, produce, or create'. The word's evolution reflects concepts of birth, lineage, and the passage of time, eventually extending to represent groups of people within that timeline, and the act of producing electricity, light, or other energy.
The term 'generation' has been used for centuries, initially in a biological context and later to refer to a group of people with shared experiences. Its usage expanded significantly during the 20th century with concepts like 'baby boomers' and 'millennials'.
Memory tip
Think of a family tree; each level represents a generation.
Word Origin
"to beget, produce, create"