generator

American  

[jen-uh-rey-ter] / ˈdʒɛn əˌreɪ tər /

noun

generators plural

1. a machine that converts one form of energy into another, especially mechanical energy into electrical energy, as a dynamo, or electrical energy into sound, as an acoustic generator.

2. a person or thing that generates.

3. Chemistry. an apparatus for producing a gas or vapor.

4. Mathematics.

   1. an element or one of a set of elements from which a specified mathematical object can be formed by applying certain operations.

   2. an element, as a line, that generates a figure.

5. Computers. a program that produces a particular type of output on demand, as random numbers, an application program, or a report.

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generator British  

/ ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. physics

   1. any device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction, esp a large one as in a power station

   2. a device for producing a voltage electrostatically

   3. any device that converts one form of energy into another form

      an acoustic generator

2. an apparatus for producing a gas

3. a person or thing that generates

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generator Cultural  

1. A device that produces electric current (see also current), usually by rotating a conductor in a magnetic field, thereby generating current through electromagnetic induction. This sort of generator produces an alternating current (AC).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• generators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of generator

1640–50; < Latin generātor producer, equivalent to generā ( re ) ( see generate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

If your neighborhood loses power, it’s good to have your own generator so you can keep the lights on. A generator is machine that produces power. Generator can also mean someone who creates something. If you come up with lots of ideas, you are an idea generator. Not so helpful during a blackout unless you had the idea to get a portable generator. This kind of generator makes electricity out of some other type of power (like wind power) or fuel (like propane or gas). In Latin, generator means "begetter or producer," from generare, "to bring forth."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

generator generators

He also frets about a potential explosion due to a stockpile of fuel on site for a backup generator.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Brad Long, a bitcoin financial coach based outside of Atlanta, said he purchased roughly $10,000 of Stretch late last year to see if its dividends could serve as a viable income generator in retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

It involves an operation where a generator is implanted into the patients chest.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

For their experiments, the researchers suspended silica nanoparticles in water and passed the mixture through an ultra fine bubble generator.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

There was no TV at Garland, and it wasn’t just because our generator barely had enough power to run the lights and refrigerator.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Caterpillar CAT 0.66%increase; up pointing triangle , the second-largest Dow industrials component with a business selling generators for data centers, shed 10% over a two-day period.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

She says some teams will have tools that are electrically-powered, or will carry diesel generators to power devices.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

As AI spending eats into the free cash flow of cloud providers, Micron and other chip companies are turning into major free-cash-flow generators, Gabriel noted.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026

"We need things here -- machinery, generators, all kinds of stuff... we need help, there are people alive."

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

Ifemelu climbed out of the car and into the loud, discordant drone of generators, too many generators; the sound pierced the soft middle of her ears and throbbed in her head.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie