millennial

1 of 2

adjective

mil·​len·​ni·​al mə-ˈle-nē-əl 

1

: of or relating to a millennium

This geopolitical specification of the millennium—this identification of the New Jerusalem with a particular place and people—was rare, even in a time of millennial fervor.

—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

2

: of, relating to , or belonging to the generation of people born in the 1980s or 1990s : of or relating to millennials

More than 60% of millennial voters support the birth control mandate.

—Katie McDonough

millennial

2 of 2

noun

: a person born in the 1980s or 1990s

—usually plural

Examples of millennial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The millennial swifties will die for sure with this golden pop mashup! —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

Mike Krieger, the millennial founder who created Instagram with Kevin Systrom and is now chief product officer at Anthropic, said businesses’ rapid adoption of new technology was fueled by a fear of missing out (FOMO). —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025

Noun

Lithuanian millennials all speak good English, and many also speak Spanish or Italian from Erasmus years abroad. —Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

While millennials chased minimalism—think capsule wardrobes and beige apartments—Gen Z is turning up the color saturation. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1991, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing millennial

• multi-millennial

Rhymes for millennial

• biennial
• centennial
• decennial
• perennial
• quadrennial
• quinquennial
• triennial
• bicentennial
• sesquicentennial

Kids Definition

millennial

1 of 2 adjective

mil·​len·​ni·​al mə-ˈle-nē-əl 

: of or relating to a millennium

millennial

2 of 2 noun

: a person born in the 1980s or 1990s

—usually used in plural