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

In six metro areas, the average earnings for millennial women were higher than millennial men, according to the report. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025

Nearly 1 in 5, or 18%, of millennial women identify as LGBTQ versus 9% of millennial men. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025

Noun

Tubi’s audience, 77% of which doesn’t have cable TV, skews toward millennials, Gen Z and females, with more than 34% between the ages 18 and 34. —Sydney Cella, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025

Photo: Laure Joliet The foundation of this annual report, which Stanback’s team usually starts compiling in August, is built on consumer behavior in real time from searches on Pinterest’s platform across a global audience of Gen Z, millennials, boomers, and Gen X. —Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 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