-gen
a combining form meaning “that which produces,” used in the formation of compound words.
-gen
1 American
Also
-gene
gen.
2
American
abbreviation
-
gender.
-
general.
-
genitive.
-
genus.
Gen.
3
American
abbreviation
-
Military. General.
-
Bible. Genesis.
-
Geneva.
-gen
1
British
suffix
-
producing or that which produces
hydrogen
-
something produced
carcinogen
Gen.
2
British
abbreviation
-
General
-
Bible Genesis
gen
3
British
/ dʒɛn /
noun
Usage
What does -gen mean? The combining form -gen is used like a suffix meaning “that which produces.” It is often used in scientific and technical terms, especially in chemistry and biology. The form -gen comes from Greek -genēs, meaning “born” or “produced.” The Latin translation and cognate of -genēs is nātus, meaning “born,” which is the source of natal, native, and nature. Find out how these terms derive from nātus at our entry for each word. What are variants of -gen?While the form -gen doesn't have any variants, it is related to the combining forms -genic, -geny, and -genous, as in heterogenic, heterogeny, and heterogenous. The form -gen is also closely related to the combining forms -genesis and -genetic as in carcinogenesis and autogenetic. Read our Words That Use articles for -genic, -geny, -genous, -genesis, and -genetic to learn more.
Etymology
Origin of -gen
< French -gène ≪ Greek -genēs born, produced; akin to Latin genus, kin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The word collagen actually derives from the Greek kolla, meaning glue, and the suffix -gen, meaning producer.
From Slate ● Feb. 15, 2012
EIA sees power gen. from coal sliding 15% in ’12, nat gas increases 24%.
From Washington Post ● May 9, 2012
Rousselet, "On a new Freshwater Polyzoon from Rhodesia, Lophopodella thomasi, gen. et sp. nov."
From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Nelson Annandale
IV, take, take away; c. gen. exempt. berāten, sv.
From A Middle High German Primer Third Edition by Joseph Wright
If an occurs in the nom. sing. or as the subject, it is always ans; if it occur as a gen., dat., or acc., it is always an.
From Chips From A German Workshop. Vol. III. Essays on Literature, Biography, and Antiquities by F. Max (Friedrich Max) Müller
The gen. plural had the ending of the weak declension already in the oldest period of the language.
From A Middle High German Primer Third Edition by Joseph Wright
Gen. Trent McCotter said Monday that “there may be some names on there who, it turns out, ultimately are citizens.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Gen. Scott C. Mills, 57th Wing commander, said in the release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta wrote on the same platform.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Gen. Gholamreza Jalali, the official in charge of the country’s contingency plans, told reporters at the end of September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Well, yes. It’s a bug. But not just any bug. It’s a scorpion, Gen. A scorpion. Do you know what that means?”
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Then came gen AI that could automate its core offering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
ServiceNow’s gen AI product, Now Assist, surpassed $600 million in annual contract value in the fourth quarter.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
Here are some examples of prompts from analysts and portfolio managers who are leveraging gen AI to work better and faster:
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026
“There are thousands of group chats like this where gen z people talk like that,” he said.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2025
They had transmuted carbon into radioactive nitro gen.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
