generation
noun
gen·er·a·tion
ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor
b
: a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously
the younger generation
c
: 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
d
: a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type
first of the … new generation of powerful supersonic fighters—
Kenneth Koyen
Kenneth Koyen2
a
: the action or process of producing offspring : procreation
b
: the process of coming or bringing into being
generation of income
c
: origination by a generating process : production
especially
: formation of a geometric figure by motion of another
3
: the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring
Examples of generation in a Sentence
She was worshipped by a generation of moviegoers.
He was a hero to generations of students.
We need to preserve these resources for future generations.
His books are popular among members of the younger generation.
That family has lived in the same house for four generations.
The house has been passed down in the family from generation to generation.
He has held that position for a generation.
No one dreamed that such things would be possible a generation ago.
The company claims to be developing the next generation of portable computers.
Recent Examples on the Web
The industry supports industries such as manufacturing, steel production, agriculture and power generation.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
About 100 middle and high school students filled the hallways, rotating between classrooms led by lawyers, artists, judges, firefighters, business owners and other professionals — all gathered to inform, inspire and invest in the next generation.
—Essence, 14 July 2025
The camp opened in 1926 and three generations of the same family have run it, with disagreement over money among siblings in 2011 that was sorted out through court, and the family kept it, even when summers of travel volleyball teams and volunteer trips threaten it.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 14 July 2025
They are endangered and their global population has declined 40% in the last three generations, according to the NOAA.
—Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for generation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
About 100 middle and high school students filled the hallways, rotating between classrooms led by lawyers, artists, judges, firefighters, business owners and other professionals — all gathered to inform, inspire and invest in the next generation.
—Essence, 14 July 2025
The camp opened in 1926 and three generations of the same family have run it, with disagreement over money among siblings in 2011 that was sorted out through court, and the family kept it, even when summers of travel volleyball teams and volunteer trips threaten it.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 14 July 2025
They are endangered and their global population has declined 40% in the last three generations, according to the NOAA.
—Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for generation
Cite this Entry
“Generation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generation. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
generation
noun
gen·er·a·tion
ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
a
: those being a step in a line from one ancestor
a family that has lived in the same house for four generations
b
: a group of individuals born and living at the same time
c
: a type or class of objects developed from an earlier type
2
: the average length of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring
3
: the action or process of generating
Medical Definition
generation
noun
gen·er·a·tion
ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
a
: a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor
b
: a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously
2
: the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring
3
: the action or process of producing offspring : procreation
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