millennial

American  

[mi-len-ee-uhl] / mɪˈlɛn i əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a millennium or the millennium.

2. worthy or suggestive of the millennium.

3. (often initial capital letter) noting or relating to the generation born in the 1980s or 1990s, especially in the U.S.

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noun

1. (often initial capital letter) a person born in the 1980s or 1990s, especially in the U.S.; a member of Generation Y.

   Millennials are facing a deep economic crisis.

Other Word Forms

• millennially adverb

Etymology

Origin of millennial

First recorded in 1655–65; millenni(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

With the World Cup upon us, soccer-loving Gen X and elder millennial Angelenos are desperate to get in on the action.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

There is, in other words, much to criticize about millennial feminism, and there are many lessons to learn.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Later, the "rose gold" variant of the iPhone 6S in 2015, spawned many copycats, surfing a years-long trend dubbed "millennial pink".

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Despite my penchant for outer space films and my affinity for Gosling’s work, the millennial cringe of it all left a bitter taste in my mouth.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

I kind of scoffed or sighed or exhaled in a way that was vaguely coughy and then said, “I’m not beau—” “You’re like a millennial Natalie Portman. Like Vfor Vendetta Natalie Portman.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green