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

Deloitte's 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which surveyed more than 23,000 respondents across 44 countries, found that only 6% of Gen Z and millennial workers cited reaching a leadership position as their primary career goal. — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Perhaps map reading is the running record of today for millennial parents and their kids. — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 30 June 2026

Noun

Trey Parker and Matt Stone created a show directly informed by millennials and Gen Xers growing up in a culture of gun violence, fear, moralizing, bigotry, war and division. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Many millennials, Gen Zers and the even-younger Gen Alpha no longer aspire to achieve what their parents did, says Pollak. — Jennifer Liu ashton Jackson, CNBC, 29 June 2026

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

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