generation
This term carries a strong sense of chronological layering. When applied to people, it evokes a feeling of shared cultural identity and collective experience, often highlighting the friction or gap in understanding between different age groups. In technical or industrial contexts, it describes a leap in evolution. It suggests a clean break from the previous version, where the new iteration is expected to be more efficient, powerful, or sophisticated than its predecessor.
Countable when referring to a specific group of people born in the same era (the baby boomer generation). Uncountable when referring to the general process of producing something (the generation of heat).
Meanings
All of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.
"The younger generation is more tech-savvy."
The act or process of producing something.
"The generation of electricity from wind turbines is increasing."
A stage of development or a specific version of a product.
"This is the third generation of the smartphone."