ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gen

n. · v. · adv.
US //ˈdʒɛn// gen
  1. 1 information (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    useful information or facts about a specific subject.

    information or intelligence regarding a specific topic. This sense is an informal clipping of 'general information'.

    Example

    I need to get the latest gen on the new project before the meeting starts.

    Example

    The journalist spent weeks trying to get the full gen on the company's offshore accounts before publishing the exposé.

    Usage

    Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
  2. 2 generation (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a group of people born around the same time, like Gen Z.

    a specific generation of people, typically used in compounds like 'Gen X' or 'Gen Z'.

    Example

    Gen Z is often praised for being very comfortable with new technology.

    Example

    Sociologists often compare the spending habits of Gen X with those of their millennial counterparts to identify shifting economic priorities.
  3. 3 product version (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Technical Computing

    a specific version or model of a product in a series.

    a specific iteration or version of a technological product, often used in compounds.

    Example

    The next-gen console will have much better graphics than the current one.

    Example

    The latest first-gen prototypes were plagued by battery issues that were only resolved in the subsequent production run.
  4. 4 to generate (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Technical Computing

    to create something using a computer program.

    to produce or create something, especially through an automated or algorithmic process.

    Example

    The software can gen a report in just a few seconds.

    Example

    The script was designed to gen unique terrain features for the game world every time a new session started.
  5. 5 genuinely (adv.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang

    really or truly; used to show you are being honest.

    an adverbial clipping of 'genuinely', used to emphasize the truth or sincerity of a statement.

    Example

    That was gen the best meal I have ever had.

    Example

    I was gen surprised by the outcome of the election, as the polls had suggested a completely different result.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is highly informal and mostly found in internet slang or text messaging among younger speakers.
Etymology 1

Clipping of general.

Etymology 2

Shortened from generate and generator.

Etymology 3

Shortened from genetic engineering

Etymology 4

Etymology unknown. Possibilities include: * Clipping of argent * Clipping of generalise, from back slang for English shilling.

Etymology 5

Clipping of generation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026