Generation Z

alternative generation Z · alternative Generation Zed · alternative Gen Z · alternative Gen-Z

1. The generation of people born between the mid-late 1990s and early 2010s, following Generation Y, typically defined as beginning with births in 1997 and ending with births in 2012.

   Sure, millennials were digital; their teenage years were defined by iPods and MySpace. But Generation Z is the first generation to be raised in the era of smartphones. Many do not remember a time before social media.

   2015 September 18, Alex Williams, “Move Over, Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   1 more example

   Generation Z, those born after 1997, also known as the Millennials or the “I” generation, grew up watching the fall of the World Trade Center, the crash of the financial markets, and the intoxicating greed of financial moguls.

   2013, Robert E. Gunther, William S. Kane, Leigh Thompson, Martha I. Finney, The Truth About Better Decision-Making (Collection), FT Press, →ISBN

   Synonyms: iGeneration, iGen, digital natives, Post-Millennials, Generation K, zoomers

plural Generation Zs · alternative generation Z · alternative Generation Zed · alternative Gen Z · alternative Gen-Z

1. A member of Generation Z.

   And to our wonderful tribe of Generation Zs and Alphas for whom we are so grateful: Acacia, Jasper, Zari, Brighton and Corban – it is an honour to call you our children.

   2021, Mark McCrindle, Generation Alpha: Understanding Our Children and Helping Them Thrive, Hachette Australia, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   One key reason Generation Zs have suffered the highest job losses is that they are disproportionately represented in industries that have had the most number of layoffs and furloughs and are more likely to be in entry-level jobs and/or serve as hourly workers.

   2021, Annabel Beerel, Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories, Routledge, →ISBN

   In comparison, Generation Zs are the first generation to grow up with the Internet in their pocket (e.g. cell phones and smartphones) with constant access to the online world, creating a sense of immediacy for information and contact.

   2022, Heidi Weigand, Heather Mackinnon, Erica Weigand, Jessica Hepworth, “Intergenerational Stories of Kindness: A Catalyst for Bouncing Back”, in Michelle Thomason, editor, Kindness in Management and Organizational Studies (Kindness at Work), Emerald Publishing, →ISBN, page 134

   Synonyms: Generation Zer, Gen Z, Gen-Zer, Z, Zer, zoomer

1. Alternative letter-case form of Generation Z.

   As for hard facts, “there’s a chart that shows the proportion of each generation that drinks five or more nights a week,” says Bobby Duffy […]. “One-third of the prewar generation drank five nights a week. It’s 0.2% of generation Z [those born between about 1995 and 2012].”

   2021 September 22, Zoe Williams, “Generation X are heavy, risky drinkers. Will anything ever persuade us to stop?”, in The Guardian

plural generation Zs

1. Alternative letter-case form of Generation Z.

   In the US, millennials and generation Zs aren’t taking all their annual leave, even though they don’t get much of it over there.

   2024 May 22, “Quiet vacationing: why workers are sneaking off on holiday without telling their boss”, in The Guardian