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.
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
Katie McDonough
: a person born in the 1980s or 1990s
—usually plural
Examples of millennial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebEmma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2024
This story represents a snapshot of millennial Black Southern girlhood.
—Dennis Zhou, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Much to the relief of her newfound Gen Z/millennial fans, a second show was subsequently added (for Oct. 20) due to high demand.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2024
Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who reshaped El Salvador by cracking down on both gangs and civil liberties, looked poised to win another five years in office after polls closed on Sunday.
—Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024
What’s more, 88% of millennial respondents are carrying extra debt as a result of spending time with that friend and another 80% of Gen Z respondents echo the same sentiment.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024
The millennial generation’s elevation of astrology is well documented but the #manifest hashtag, with its whopping 26 billion views on TikTok, shows the next phase of mysticism’s evolution: A belief that financial fortunes and fates can arise seemingly out of your own mind.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
Young adults, who straddle the Gen Z and millennial generations, are more likely to have college educations than their parents.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2024
According to the bank, the fall has been driven by more millennial males going to college compared to their baby boomer predecessors, leaving half the number of workers as before.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Jan. 2024
Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024
That includes 10 percent or about 8 million new owners, the majority of which are millennials.
—Elaine Markoutsas, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Lovers & Friends began as a festival in 2022 after Covid delayed its launch years prior, with a lineup that read like a who’s who of any millennial’s Napster downloads featuring headliners Lauryn Hill, Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024
In fact, housing affordability is so strained that two in five Gen Zers and millennials are working side hustles to save for down payments, according to a Redfin study released in September 2023.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2024
Among millennials and members of Generation Z in the U.S., only 48 percent could name a concentration camp or ghetto.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
This pattern continues across the majority of other services, with stark differences in how Gen Zers, millennials and men in particular tip hair stylists/barbers, food delivery people, and taxi/rideshare drivers.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 18 Jan. 2024
Deregulation has created the conditions for today’s economic reality, in which many millennials and Gen Zers must work precarious jobs in the gig economy.
—Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 17 Jan. 2024
The nostalgic gum was particularly ubiquitous during the childhoods of many millennials and was a staple in grocery store checkout aisles.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
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Adjective
The millennial women leading a new era of fashion journalism Washington Post
Sheryl Sandberg is on a mission to make sure Oct. 7 horrors aren’t forgotten Wall Street Journal
Where has Tracy Chapman been?
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2024
This story represents a snapshot of millennial Black Southern girlhood.
—Dennis Zhou, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Much to the relief of her newfound Gen Z/millennial fans, a second show was subsequently added (for Oct. 20) due to high demand.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2024
Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who reshaped El Salvador by cracking down on both gangs and civil liberties, looked poised to win another five years in office after polls closed on Sunday.
—Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024
What’s more, 88% of millennial respondents are carrying extra debt as a result of spending time with that friend and another 80% of Gen Z respondents echo the same sentiment.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024
The millennial generation’s elevation of astrology is well documented but the #manifest hashtag, with its whopping 26 billion views on TikTok, shows the next phase of mysticism’s evolution: A belief that financial fortunes and fates can arise seemingly out of your own mind.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
Young adults, who straddle the Gen Z and millennial generations, are more likely to have college educations than their parents.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2024
According to the bank, the fall has been driven by more millennial males going to college compared to their baby boomer predecessors, leaving half the number of workers as before.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
Betches’ primary audience is young millennial and Gen Z women.
—Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024
That includes 10 percent or about 8 million new owners, the majority of which are millennials.
—Elaine Markoutsas, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Lovers & Friends began as a festival in 2022 after Covid delayed its launch years prior, with a lineup that read like a who’s who of any millennial’s Napster downloads featuring headliners Lauryn Hill, Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024
In fact, housing affordability is so strained that two in five Gen Zers and millennials are working side hustles to save for down payments, according to a Redfin study released in September 2023.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2024
Among millennials and members of Generation Z in the U.S., only 48 percent could name a concentration camp or ghetto.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
This pattern continues across the majority of other services, with stark differences in how Gen Zers, millennials and men in particular tip hair stylists/barbers, food delivery people, and taxi/rideshare drivers.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 18 Jan. 2024
Deregulation has created the conditions for today’s economic reality, in which many millennials and Gen Zers must work precarious jobs in the gig economy.
—Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 17 Jan. 2024
The nostalgic gum was particularly ubiquitous during the childhoods of many millennials and was a staple in grocery store checkout aisles.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'millennial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Millennial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millennial. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on millennial
Nglish: Translation of millennial for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of millennial for Arabic Speakers
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