Gen Z

noun

ˈjen-ˈzē 

: generation z

Gen Z is as nuanced and complex as every generation before them … In fact, they are considered to be the most diverse and multicultural generation ever.

—Andrew Kelly and Guy Cierzan

Gen Z is incredibly media savvy, so the challenge for marketers is trying to connect with an audience that already knows every marketing trick in the book.

—Chirag Kulkarni

—often used before another noun

Gen Z activists are using social media to start movements and gather the momentum they need to make positive changes in the world.

—Savanna Smith

—often hyphenated in such use

Gen-Z students/consumers

Gen Zer

ˈjen-ˈzē-ər 

noun

or Gen-Zer

plural Gen Zers or Gen-Zers

… even the oldest Gen Zer was just a tween when the iPhone was released in 2007.

—Ryan Kelly

Though many tend to lump them together, millennials and Gen Zers are two very different cohorts.

—Chad Recchia

Examples of Gen Z in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Millennials and Gen Z, driven more by purpose than paychecks, working with or in government offers a chance to make a real impact. —Wietse Van Ransbeeck, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

These whimsical pimple patches were first proudly adopted by Gen Z on TikTok, but stars from the likes of Hailey Bieber, Ella Emhoff, SZA, and Central Cee have joined the ranks—sporting them in selfies all over Instagram. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024

These days, homeownership is no easy feat; what once was a common milestone for generations of adults now feels unfathomable for Gen Z and millennials. —Madeline Bilis, Architectural Digest, 21 Nov. 2024

Read more Dating Is Rough for Gen Z, Especially for Men Who Support Trump | Opinion Thank You, Democrats | Opinion One Last Peek Inside the Republican Tent | Opinion Anxiety often snowballs. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above