Meaning & use
Gen Z
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
The generation of people born roughly between 1997 and 2012, after millennials.
Grammar: Used as a group noun; can take a singular or plural verb. Often followed by a plural verb: Gen Z are known for...
Patterns
- Gen Z is/are
- members of Gen Z
- the Gen Z generation
Gen Z grew up with smartphones and social media.
Many companies are trying to attract Gen Z as customers.
She is writing a book about the spending habits of Gen Z.
Common combinations
- Gen Z workers
- Gen Z workers often expect flexible hours.
- the Gen Z generation
- The Gen Z generation is more diverse than any before it.
- Gen Z slang
- I can't keep up with Gen Z slang.
- a member of Gen Z
- As a member of Gen Z, he prefers texting to calling.
Synonyms and how they differ
- zoomer
- Informal and sometimes disapproving; a single person from Gen Z, not the whole group.
- post-millennial
- More formal and less common; refers to the same age group but is not a fixed label.
Commonly confused: Gen Z or millennial? Gen Z or Gen X?
Gen Z vs millennial
Millennials were born roughly 1981–1996, so they are older than Gen Z. Don't use the terms interchangeably.
Gen Z vs Gen X
Gen X refers to people born roughly 1965–1980, an earlier generation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Gen Z' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'Gen Z' as a group noun with a plural verb. Option 1 is wrong because Gen Z is not a device. Option 2 is unnatural; we say 'She is a member of Gen Z' or 'She is Gen Z'. Option 3 is wrong because Gen Z refers to people born roughly 1997–2012, not the 1980s.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Gen Z”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.