Definition of millennium
millennia
play \-nē-ə\ ormillenniums
1a : the thousand years mentioned in Revelation (see revelation 3) 20 during which holiness is to prevail and Christ is to reign on earthb : a period of great happiness or human perfection
2a : a period of 1000 years; especially : one reckoned from the beginning of the Christian era at the start of the third millenniumb : a 1000th anniversary or its celebration In 2015 the city of Leipzig, Germany, celebrated its millennium.
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Examples of millennium in a Sentence
The book describes the changes that have occurred in the landscape over many millennia.
The year 2000 was celebrated as the beginning of the third millennium.
Recent Examples of millennium from the Web
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Weather has taken a toll on the structure, construction of which began on Rotary Hill along the Naperville Riverwalk in 1999 to commemorate the new millennium and was completed eight years later.
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Of course, Aaron is the one who made the drive-in legendary in these parts, taking it to the next level in the new millennium with a menu that goes well beyond burgers and shakes.
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Fast-forward a couple of millennia, and some observers worry that Washington and Beijing are heading toward the same fate.
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This ancient culture of navigators has been choosing among islands and founding new societies for millennia.
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Millennium is the most iconic dance studio in the world.
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Gay people at the end of the millennium were almost forced into becoming ministering angels to one another, and into taking on indifferent governmental institutions.
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Since the dawn of a new millennium, many museums, including LACMA, have been experimenting with permanent collections.
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About to die from overexposure Mass-media meme 3 months Millennium Breakdown Meme on the rise Embryonic meme 42 Steve G. Steinberg (hype-list@wired.com)
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'millennium'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Since in Latin mille means "thousand", a millennium lasts 1,000 years. Thus, we're living today at the beginning of the third millennium since the birth of Christ. But some religious sects, relying on a prophecy in the biblical Book of Revelation, speak of a coming millennium when Jesus will return to reign on earth for 1,000 years, evil will be banished, and all will live in peace and happiness. Members of these sects who keep themselves in a constant state of preparedness are called millenarians or millennialists.
Origin and Etymology of millennium
New Latin, from Latin mille thousand + New Latin -ennium (as in biennium)
First Known Use: circa 1638
Other Calendar Terms
MILLENNIUM Defined for English Language Learners
millennium
playDefinition of millennium for English Language Learners
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: a period of 1,000 years
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: a period of a thousand years counted from the beginning of the Christian era
MILLENNIUM Defined for Kids
millennium
playDefinition of millennium for Students
millennia
\-nē-ə\ ormillenniums
1 : a period of 1000 years
2 : a 1000th anniversary or its celebration
millennial
\-nē-əl\ adjectiveLearn More about millennium
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See words that rhyme with millennium Spanish Central: Translation of millennium Nglish: Translation of millennium for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of millennium for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about millennium
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