Medium — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈmē-dē-əm/ me·di·um

Meaning & Definition of Medium

Medium (noun)

  1. something in a middle position
  2. a middle condition or degree, mean
  3. a means of effecting or conveying something

Medium (adjective)

  1. intermediate in quantity, quality, position, size, or degree

Medium (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a middle point between extremes

    "trying to achieve a happy medium as far as the demands of career and family are concerned"

    similar: golden mean, mean, middle, middle ground, midpoint, middle of the road
    related: arithmetic mean, average, median, norm, par, standard
    near: maximum, utmost, minimum

  2. something used to achieve an end

    "regards political activism on the local level as the best medium for effecting social change"

    similar: agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, ministry, organ, vehicle
    related: determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool, weapon, activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger, antecedent, cause, occasion, reason, subagency, subagent

  3. the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded

    "an artist who enjoys the cultural medium of the big city"

    similar: ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, contexture, environment, environs, milieu, mise-en-scène, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain
    related: location, place, position, space, backdrop, background, element, situation, status, geography, habitat, microenvironment

  4. a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead

    "the medium claims that she can put the grieving parents in touch with the spirit of their deceased son"

    similar: channel, channeler, psychic, spiritist, spiritualist
    related: clairvoyant, mentalist, mind reader, telepath, sensitive

  5. a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information

    "I think a blog might be a good medium for sharing your reviews of local restaurants"

    similar: forum, outlet, platform, soapbox, venue
    related: channel, conduit, pipeline, showcase, stage

Medium (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being about midway between extremes of amount or size

    "taxpayers of medium income"

    similar: average, intermediate, mean, median, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest
    related: reasonable, common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, passable, tolerable
    near: excessive, extreme, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private

  2. occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes

    "a politician who first reads the polls and then inevitably takes the medium stance on every issue"

    similar: central, halfway, intermediary, intermediate, medial, median, mediate, mid, middle, midmost
    related: equidistant, inmost, inner, innermost, nearest, betwixt and between, borderline, gray, in-between
    opposite: extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, utmost
    near: outer, peripheral

  3. of average to below average quality

    "another medium effort from a movie director who can do better"

    similar: common, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, ordinary, passable, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, so-so
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, alright, decent, OK, reasonable, satisfactory, sufficient, sufficing, tolerable, moderate, modest, presentable, respectable, minimal, unexceptional, fine, good, nice
    near: A1, capital, choice, classic, distinguished, excellent, exceptional, exquisite, fabulous, fantastic, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, matchless, maximum, nifty, number one, optimal, optimum, outstanding, par excellence, peerless, preeminent, prime, sensational, special, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supreme, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unmatched, unparalleled, unsurpassed, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Medium

The most common words with a similar meaning to Medium:

golden mean, mean, middle, middle ground, midpoint, agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, ministry, organ, vehicle, ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, contexture, environment, environs, milieu, mise-en-scène, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain, channel, channeler, psychic, spiritist, spiritualist, forum, outlet, platform, soapbox, venue, middle of the road, average

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Medium

Words with the opposite meaning of Medium:

extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, utmost

Related Words for Medium

arithmetic mean, norm, par, standard, determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool, weapon, activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger, antecedent

Near Antonyms of Medium

maximum, minimum, excessive, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private, outer, peripheral, A1, capital, choice, classic, distinguished, excellent, exquisite, fabulous, fantastic, first-class, first-rate, grand, great

Word Forms of Medium

Inflections: mediums, media

Origin & Etymology of Medium

Latin, from neuter of medius middle mid

First known use: 1593

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Medium

Words & Phrases Containing Medium

medium frequency, medium of exchange, medium roast, medium-sized, medium-term, mass medium, happy medium

Frequently Asked Questions about Medium

What does "Medium" mean?

"Medium" means something in a middle position. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: something in a middle position. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Medium"?

Other words for "Medium" include golden mean, mean, middle, middle ground, midpoint, agency, agent and instrument. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Medium" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Medium"?

There are 155 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Medium". Common alternatives include golden mean, mean, middle, middle ground, midpoint, agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality and machinery.

What is the opposite of "Medium"?

Antonyms of "Medium" include extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost and remotest. Near antonyms include maximum, minimum, excessive and exceptional.

How do you use "Medium" in a sentence?

Examples of "Medium" in a sentence: "trying to achieve a happy medium as far as the demands of career and family are concerned"; "regards political activism on the local level as the best medium for effecting social change"; "an artist who enjoys the cultural medium of the big city".

Is "Medium" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Medium" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Medium" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Medium" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Medium"?

"Medium" is pronounced /ˈmē-dē-əm/ and divided into syllables as me·di·um.