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

Millennials and Gen Z are at least two times more likely than older generations to be collectors of watches, wine or spirits, rare or classic cars, sneakers and antiques, the report found. —Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

While every generation has had to go through this important phase of cognitive development, no previous generation has had to go through the unique combination of stress factors that Gen Z is experiencing even now. —Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 26 Sep. 2025

Some surveys suggest that Gen Z is kinkier than older people, and particularly open to polyamory. —Molly Langmuir, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025

Millennials — up 42% year over year — and Gen Z, up 34%. —Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

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