gen

Everyday

1. (informal) «Gen» is short for «generation», as in «Gen Z» or «Gen Alpha», a group of people born around the same time. tree →
2. (UK slang) «Gen» means «genuinely» or «honestly»: «I'm gen tired». tree →
3. (UK, informal, old-fashioned) «The gen» means the information or the facts: «give me the gen». tree →
4. (abbreviation) «Gen.» is short for the army rank General, and «Gen» for the Bible book Genesis. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk children hear «Gen Z» and «Gen Alpha» used about age groups, and in games «next-gen» means the newest version of consoles. In UK playground slang «gen» means «for real». In church and Bible lessons, «Gen 1:1» means Genesis, chapter one, verse one — the first verse of the Bible. In history, «Gen.» is a rank written before a name: «Gen. Washington».

Examples

• My older cousin says she is Gen Z. tree →
• Children born recently are sometimes called Gen Alpha. tree →
• «That was gen the best film ever», said Callum. tree →
• The new next-gen console came out at the weekend. tree →
• Look up Gen 1:1 — the first verse of the Bible. tree →
• Gen. Eisenhower led the soldiers. tree →
• Grandad asked for «the gen» on the school trip. tree →

Note

Mostly informal or an abbreviation, not a full word in careful writing; in essays write «generation», «genuinely», «General» or «Genesis». «Gen» is said with a soft «j» sound, like «jen». Do not confuse it with «gene» (part of DNA) or «gem» (a jewel).