millennium
noun
or millenniums
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Since in Latin mille means "thousand", a millennium lasts 1,000 years. Thus, we're living today at the beginning of the third millennium since the birth of Christ. But some religious sects, relying on a prophecy in the biblical Book of Revelation, speak of a coming millennium when Jesus will return to reign on earth for 1,000 years, evil will be banished, and all will live in peace and happiness. Members of these sects who keep themselves in a constant state of preparedness are called millenarians or millennialists.
Examples of millennium in a Sentence
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2024
The comet strike brought with it a miniature Ice Age that lasted for more than a millennium and led to the extinction of many large animals.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2024
The Sahara’s greener period most likely ended by the beginning of the third millennium BC, according to Jeffreys.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 5 Aug. 2024
It was spoken from the third millennium B.C.E. until the first century C.E., and scholars deciphered it in the 19th century.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for millennium 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'millennium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near millennium
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“Millennium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millennium. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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millennium
noun
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