millenarian
|mil-len-ar-i-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌmɪlɪˈnɛriən/
🇬🇧
/ˌmɪlɪˈneəriən/
belief in an imminent radical transformation / 1,000‑year reign
Etymology
'millenarian' originates from Modern Latin and French: from Latin 'mille' meaning 'thousand' and 'annus' meaning 'year', via French 'millénarien' (relating to a millennium).
'millenarian' derives from Medieval/Modern Latin forms related to 'millennium' and passed into French as 'millénarien'/'millénarisme', then into English as 'millenarian' to denote both belief in and followers of a millennium-related transformation.
Initially it was tied closely to the literal idea of a 'thousand-year' period (a millennium); over time it came to be used primarily for the belief in an imminent, radical transformation of society and for people who hold that belief.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who believes in millenarianism — the expectation of a coming fundamental transformation of society (often associated with a forthcoming 1,000-year reign).
He was a millenarian who believed the old order would be swept away within a single generation.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of millenarianism; believing in or relating to an impending radical transformation of society or a thousand-year reign.
Millenarian movements have appeared at several points in history after major crises.
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Last updated: 2025/12/09 10:52