first generation

4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for first generation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Describing a person who was born in a country to parents who immigrated there, or, in other uses, the immigrant who arrived first; the term is applied both ways depending on who is speaking.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

original

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

first-gen early-model gen 1

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Describing a person who was born in a country to parents who immigrated there, or, in other uses, the immigrant who arrived first; the term is applied both ways depending on who is speaking.

“As a first-generation American, she grew up translating letters for her parents.”

first-gen

2. adjective

Describing a student who is the first in their family to attend university.

“The scholarship is reserved for first-generation college students.”

first-gen

3. adjective

Belonging to the earliest version of a product, technology or breed, before later improved versions appeared.

“First-generation electric cars had a fraction of today's range.”

original early-model gen 1

Opposites

next-generation latest-generation

How to use first generation

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

first-generation immigrant first-generation college student first-generation American first-generation technology

Hyphenated before a noun (a first-generation student), usually open after the verb (she is first generation). Often shortened to first-gen in American speech.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between first generation and second generation?

Second generation almost always means the children of immigrants, born in the new country. First generation is the ambiguous one: some use it for the immigrants themselves, others for their country-born children. If both terms appear together, first generation usually means the arrivals.

Who counts as a first-generation college student?

Definitions vary by institution, but most define it as a student whose parents did not complete a four-year degree. Some programmes count a parent's partial study or an associate degree differently, so check the specific scheme's wording.

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