sandwich generation

noun

A generation of adults who must provide care simultaneously to their aging parents and also their own children.

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Meanings

nounsandwich generation (plural sandwich generations)

plural sandwich generations

  1. A generation of adults who must provide care simultaneously to their aging parents and also their own children.

Origin

So called because they are sandwiched between the preceding and succeeding generations.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Hungarian szendvicsgeneráció
  • szendvicsgenerációsandwich generation
Polish pokolenie kanapkowe, pokolenie przegubowe
  • pokolenie kanapkowesandwich generation
  • pokolenie przegubowesandwich generation
Cite this entry
APA

sandwich generation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sandwich%20generation

MLA

“sandwich generation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sandwich%20generation. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sandwich generation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sandwich%20generation.

Source: sandwich generation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.