Gen Z

noun

ˈjen-ˈzē 

: generation z

Gen Z is as nuanced and complex as every generation before them … In fact, they are considered to be the most diverse and multicultural generation ever.

—Andrew Kelly and Guy Cierzan

Gen Z is incredibly media savvy, so the challenge for marketers is trying to connect with an audience that already knows every marketing trick in the book.

—Chirag Kulkarni

—often used before another noun

Gen Z activists are using social media to start movements and gather the momentum they need to make positive changes in the world.

—Savanna Smith

—often hyphenated in such use

Gen-Z students/consumers

Gen Zer

ˈjen-ˈzē-ər 

noun

or Gen-Zer

plural Gen Zers or Gen-Zers

… even the oldest Gen Zer was just a tween when the iPhone was released in 2007.

—Ryan Kelly

Though many tend to lump them together, millennials and Gen Zers are two very different cohorts.

—Chad Recchia

Examples of Gen Z in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why Gen Z wants authentic Y2K pieces One big reason Gen Z keeps hunting old mall clothes is that the pieces come from the actual era inspiring today’s Y2K revival. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

But like older respondents, Gen Z is especially interested in hearing CEOs’ perspectives on issues at least tangentially related to running a business, like clean air and water, the environment, sustainability, and AI. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Finally, the report found that Gen Z’s and Gen Alpha’s vision of the American Dream is increasingly taking shape. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

That’s a 20% increase on the year prior, with the church also saying 42% of the adults seeking baptism are aged 18-25, a reflection of a trend showing Gen Z’s openness to religious faith. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Gen Z

• bens
• cleanse
• dens
• gens
• glens
• hens
• jens
• pens
• tens
• wrens
• zens
• cheyennes