millennium

mil-len-ni-um · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A period of one thousand years.

  2. 2.

    A thousandth anniversary or its celebration.

  3. 3.

    (In Christian theology) The period of a thousand years during which Christ will reign on earth.

  4. 4.

    A hoped-for period of great happiness, prosperity, or perfection.

Forms

plural: millennia

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    turn of the millennium — the transition from one millennium to the next
  • •
    the new millennium — the period beginning in the year 2000
  • •
    millennium bug/Y2K — the predicted computer problems at the year 2000

Related words

See also: century, decade, epoch, era
Synonyms: thousand years

Etymology

From Latin millennium, from mille ("thousand") + annus ("year"). First used in English in the 17th century.