The word "generation" is spelled with the letter "g" followed by "e", "n", "e", "r", "a", "t", "i", "o", and "n". Its IPA transcription is ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən. The letter "g" is pronounced as a soft "j" sound, while the letter "e" is pronounced as "eh". The letter "r" is pronounced as a soft r sound and the letter "a" as "ay". The last two syllables, "-tion", are pronounced as "shun" sound, which is written with the letters "t" and "i".
Generation is a noun that refers to the act or process of producing offspring or a group of individuals who share a common ancestry and are roughly of the same age. It can also encompass the average time interval between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring, typically equating to around 30 years.
In a more general sense, generation can describe the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time, having similar experiences, attitudes, and characteristics that set them apart from other groups. These groups are usually identified by specific labels such as Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, or Gen Z, which highlight the societal, technological, and cultural influences that shape their lives.
Moreover, generation can denote a stage in the development or evolution of something. It can describe the sequencing of a product's releases or updates, indicating a particular version or iteration. For example, the first generation of a smartphone might have distinct features and capabilities from its later iterations.
It is worth noting that generation can also refer to the production or creation of something, such as electricity or energy. It signifies the process of generating power or an output through various methods like chemical reactions, kinetic energy conversion, or technological mechanisms.
In summary, generation encompasses the concept of kinship and shared experiences among a group of individuals born in a similar era, as well as the process of reproducing offspring. It extends beyond familial ties to indicate the distinct characteristics and influences of different age cohorts, and can additionally refer to the stages or versions of a product's development or the production of various forms of energy.
Production; formation; an age; people of the same period; a family; a race.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "generation" originated from the Latin term "generatio", which is derived from the verb "generare", meaning "to beget" or "to produce". It is ultimately derived from the Latin noun "gener" or "genus", which translates to "race" or "kind". The word has its roots in various ancient languages, including Old French, Greek, and Proto-Indo-European, all with similar meanings related to creation, birth, or lineage.