Boomer

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbymɑ/

Definitions

1. A person belonging to a demographic cohort recognized for their substantial influence on society and culture from the mid-20th century to present
2. An individual often seen as adhering to traditional values, which may contrast with contemporary opinions and ideologies
3. A member of a generational group characterized by significant historical events and cultural shifts primarily occurring in the post-World War II era

Etymology: The word "boomer" is an ellipsis of "baby boomer," so its story starts with "boom" and the "-er" ending. "Boom" in the sense of a sudden surge of growth or activity came into English as a sound-based word, and "-er" is the familiar suffix that turns a verb or noun into a person or thing associated with it. Put together, "baby boom" named the surge in births after the Second World War, and the people born during that surge were the "baby boomers." Over time the full phrase was shortened, and "boomer" came to stand alone as a label for the generation itself. The shortening is the surprising part: a word that once described a birth rate now names an entire cohort, and its meaning has since been stretched further to describe a cultural attitude attributed to that group.

Synonyms: baby boomer