baby-boomer
UK[ˈbeɪbi buːmə(r)]US[ˈbeɪbi buːmər]
n
A person born during the period of greatly increased birth rates that occurred in Western countries, especially the United States and United Kingdom, following the Second World War.
Morpheme Breakdown
baby
boom
er
baby
infant
boom
sudden increase
er
person who
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, originating in the mid-20th century. It directly combines 'baby', referring to an infant, with 'boom', a term for a sudden rapid increase (itself derived from a Dutch word for a loud sound or thriving activity), and the agent suffix '-er'. The compound was coined to describe the demographic phenomenon of a surge in birth rates (the 'baby boom') following World War II. Consequently, a 'baby-boomer' is literally "a person from the baby boom," encapsulating the historical and social identity of that generation.
Analysis
Structure: baby (infant) + boom (sudden increase) + er (person who)
baby: From Middle English 'babi', of imitative origin, functioning as the core noun meaning a very young child.
boom: Likely from Dutch 'boomen' (to boom, to thrive), functioning as the core noun meaning a period of rapid economic growth or a loud, deep sound.
er: From Old English '-ere', an agent noun suffix, functioning to denote a person associated with the preceding elements.
Examples
Many baby-boomers are now entering retirement.
The cultural influence of the baby-boomer generation has been profound.
Economic policies are adapting to the needs of an aging baby-boomer population.