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

How a British Dad Made Comedy Gold: George Lewis’s riffs on the absurdities of millennial parenting — and the inner lives of 2-year-olds — have won him legions of fans online and galvanized his once middling stand-up career. —Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

To be clear, this is not a plea for sympathy for millennial professionals or their comfortable parents. —Jane C. Murphy, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2025

Noun

In the 2010s, millennials were turning away from homeownership. —Daryl Fairweather, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

With the creator's advice on shedding the unnecessary weight of worrying about others' opinions, the video has struck a chord, particularly with millennials navigating their thirties. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 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