Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Gen-X” come from?

Gen-X (English) comes from English Generation X, from English generation, from Middle English generacioun, from Old French generacion, from Latin generātiō, from Latin -tiō, from Latin dissertātiō, from Latin dissertus — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

Ancestry of “Gen-X”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGeneration X—
2EnglishgenerationThe fact of creating something, or bringing...
3Middle Englishgeneracioungeneration
4Old Frenchgeneracionprocreation; begetting
5Latingenerātiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “Gen-X”

  • Gen-Xer
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →