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 range of bangers is wide enough to soundtrack the next few months of TikTok hype edits while also satisfying your millennial brother who fondly remembers going berserk to Waka Flocka Flame in college. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2025

The warm brown of John Roebling’s sooty limestone-and-granite blocks is now a millennial gray. —Diego Lasarte, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025

Noun

Thirteen percent of boomers visit bank branches most often, compared with 4% of Gen Z and millennials. —David Staats, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2025

Those efforts appealed to the nostalgia of millennials and Gen X moviegoers, many of whom now have children of their own, Robbins said. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 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