gens
noun
ˈjenz 
ˈgen(t)s
ˈgen(t)s plural gentes ˈjen-ˌtēz ˈgen-ˌtās
ˈgen-ˌtās 1
: a Roman clan embracing the families of the same stock in the male line with the members having a common name and worshipping a common ancestor
2
: clan
especially : a patrilineal clan
3
: a distinguishable group of related organisms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Next-gens tend to integrate philanthropy into all aspects of their lives. 
Shelley Hoss, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021
Shelley Hoss, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin gent-, gens literally, "group of the same ancestry, people, nation," going back to Indo-European *ǵenh1-ti- "offspring," derivative of *ǵenh1- "engender, be born" — more at kin entry 1
Note: The loss of the reflex of the laryngeal in gent-, gens, as opposed to genitor "father, creator" (see progenitor) presumably suggests that the word is a relatively recent formation, as observed already by A. Ernout and A. Meillet (Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine, 4. édition, 1979). Compare Latin nātiō "birth, race, nationality" (see nation), from *ǵn̥h1-ti-, an alternative zero-grade derivative with the suffix *-ti-.
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1