generation
generation
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "generation"
IPA: /dʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/
Syllable Breakdown:
ge-ne-ra-tion
ge: /dʒ/
ne: /ɛ/
ra: /ɹ/
tion: /ˈreɪʃən/
Word Form Variations
Singular: generation Plural: generations
Other forms:
Gerund: generating
Past tense: generated
Past participle: generated
Present participle: generating
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A group of people born at approximately the same time and sharing similar experiences and characteristics.
Synonyms: cohort, age group, demographic, peer group
Antonyms: individual, loner, solitary
Verb
Definition: To produce or bring into existence.
Synonyms: create, produce, generate, spawn
Antonyms: destroy, annihilate, eradicate
Adjective
Definition: Relating to or characteristic of a particular generation.
Synonyms: contemporary, modern, up-to-date
Antonyms: antiquated, obsolete, outdated
Adverb
Definition: In a way that is characteristic of a particular generation.
Synonyms: contemporarily, modernly, up-to-date
Antonyms: antiquatedly, obsoletely, outdatedly
Examples of Use
Books
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "They were a happy, careless people, they were the children of wealth whose parents had made enormous fortunes in the preceding decade." (Fitzgerald, 1925)
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "The children of the neighborhood were a generation that had been born to a world that was already old." (Lee, 1960)
Newspapers
"The New York Times": "The millennial generation, born between 1981 and 1996, is now the largest adult generation in the United States." (The New York Times, 2023)
"The Guardian": "The climate crisis is the defining issue for the younger generation, who are demanding urgent action from world leaders." (The Guardian, 2021)
Online Publications
"Wired": "The rise of social media has fundamentally changed the way that the current generation interacts with information and each other." (Wired, 2022)
"Vox": "The Gen Z generation is more likely to be politically active than previous generations, driven by issues such as climate change and social justice." (Vox, 2021)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies: "Back to the Future" (1985) explores the concept of time travel and the potential consequences of altering the course of history for future generations.
Television: "Stranger Things" (2016-present) features a group of teenagers who must confront supernatural forces, reflecting the challenges faced by their generation.
General Public Discourse
Social media: "I'm so tired of the older generation complaining about the younger generation. We're just trying to make the world a better place." (Twitter, 2023)
Political debates: "We need to invest in education and infrastructure to ensure that future generations have the opportunities they deserve." (Political speech, 2022)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Generation
"Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it."
— George Orwell"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."
— Ronald Reagan"Every generation needs a new revolution."
— Thomas Jefferson"A generation which ignores history has no past—and no future."
— Robert A. Heinlein"We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it."
— Barack Obama"The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible—and achieve it, generation after generation."
— Pearl S. Buck"Our generation has an incredible amount of realism, yet at the same time it loves to complain and not really change. Because, if it does change, then it won't have anything to complain about."
— Tori Amos"The glory of each generation is to make its own precedents."
— Belva Lockwood"Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform."
— John F. Kennedy"One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade."
— Chinese Proverb
Etymology
Generation is a word that has been around for a very long time! It comes from the Latin word generatio, which means "begetting" or "producing." This word, in turn, comes from the Latin word genus, which means "birth" or "origin."
So, when we say "generation," we're talking about a group of people who are born around the same time and share similar experiences. They are, in a way, "produced" or "born" from the same time period.
The first known use of "generation" in English was in the 14th century. It was used to describe a group of people who lived at the same time.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Generation
Common Phrases:
The next generation: referring to the people who will follow the current generation
A generation gap: a difference in attitudes or beliefs between people of different generations
From generation to generation: passed down from one generation to the next
Lesser-Known Phrases:
A generation of glass: a generation that is overly sensitive or fragile
A generation of snowflakes: a derogatory term for a generation that is perceived as overly sensitive or entitled
Idioms with Synonyms:
A new broom sweeps clean: A new generation can bring about positive change.
A change of heart: A shift in perspective or attitude across generations.
A turning point: A significant moment that marks a new era for a generation.
A watershed moment: A crucial event that has a lasting impact on a generation.
Note: While "generation" is a common word, there aren't many specific idioms or phrases that use it directly. This is likely because the concept of "generation" itself is quite broad and can be incorporated into many different phrases and idioms.
Posts Related to Generation
Source Information
Definition of generation from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.