The term "first generation" has multiple related meanings depending on context, but generally it refers to the first group in a family to experience a particular status, often related to immigration or education.

In the context of immigration:

• First-generation immigrants are individuals who were born outside the country they now live in and have immigrated there. They are the first generation in their family to live in the new country, often having gained citizenship or permanent residency after immigrating

• In the U.S., this typically means foreign-born individuals who moved to the country and became naturalized citizens or permanent residents

• Their children, born in the new country, are usually called second-generation

• Sometimes, the term "first generation" is also used culturally to refer to the first generation born in the new country to immigrant parents, but this is less precise and can cause confusion

In the context of education:

• First-generation students are those whose parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree. This definition is used by many educational institutions and support programs to identify students who may face unique challenges in higher education

Summary:

• First-generation immigrant: Born abroad, immigrated to a new country.
• Second-generation: Born in the new country to immigrant parents.
• First-generation student: First in the family to attend or graduate from college.

This distinction helps in understanding social, cultural, and educational dynamics within families and communities