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

Who What Wear notes the toggle closures and sharp shoulders on this year’s military jackets and frames the mood as early-aughts nostalgia, a reference point landing with millennial and older Gen Z shoppers. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

While an overall restricted supply of homes has kept many Gen Z and millennial home buyers out of the market, that will eventually have to change. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Noun

Gen Z versus millennials The BofA analysis found that older millennials spent the most on hobbies in the three months to August, spending more than double per consumer than Gen Z, the cohort BofA identified as spending the least. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026

The 40-year-old designer is part of a whole class of millennials working for historical fashion houses who have been tasked with making young shoppers feel things. — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 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