media

UK: /ˈmiːdiə/ US: /ˈmidiə/ ,(mē′dē ə)

Inflections of 'media' (n):

mediae

npl (For the anatomy, zoology, and phonetics senses only)

From medium (n):

media

npl

mediums

npl

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•di•a¹ /ˈmidiə/   n. 

1. [plural] a pl. of medium.
2. means of communication, as radio, television, and magazines, with wide reach and influence: [uncountable; used with a singular verb]
   [the + ~] The media is to blame for the defeat of our candidate.
   [plural* used with a plural verb] :
   The media have too much influence over elections.

adj. [before a noun]

3. of or relating to the media:
   media research.

See -medi-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•di•a¹  (mē′dē ə), n. 

1. a pl. of medium. 
2. (usually used with a pl. v.) the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely:
   The media are covering the speech tonight.

adj. 

3. pertaining to or concerned with such means:
   a job in media research.

Usage

Media, like data, is the plural form of a word borrowed directly from Latin. The singular, medium, early developed the meaning "an intervening agency, means, or instrument'' and was first applied to newspapers two centuries ago. In the 1920s media began to appear as a singular collective noun, sometimes with the plural medias. This singular use is now common in the fields of mass communication and advertising, but it is not frequently found outside them:
The media is (or are) not antibusiness.

me•di•a²  (mē′dē ə), n., pl. -di•ae 

(-dē ē′). 
1. Phonetics Gk. Gram. a voiced plosive, as β, δ, γ.
2. Anatomy the middle layer of an artery or lymphatic vessel.
3. Insects [Entomol.] a longitudinal vein in the middle portion of the wing of an insect.

• Late Latin (grammar sense only), noun, nominal use of feminine singular of Latin medius central, mid¹
• 1835–45

Me•di•a  (mē′dē ə), n. 

1. Place Names, Ancient History an ancient country in W Asia, S of the Caspian Sea, corresponding generally to NW Iran. Cap.: Ecbatana.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

media / ˈmiːdɪə/ noun

1. a plural of medium
2. the means of communication that reach large numbers of people, such as television, newspapers, and radio

adjective

1. of or relating to the mass media: media hype

USAGE
When media refers to the mass media, it is sometimes treated as a singular form, as in: the media has shown great interest in these events. Many people think this use is incorrect and that media should always be treated as a plural form: the media have shown great interest in these events

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•di•um /ˈmidiəm/   n., pl. -di•a /-diə/  for 1-9. 11, in Unabridged dictionary -di•ums for 1-11. 17, in Unabridged dictionary, adj..  
n. [countable]

1. a middle state or condition:
   He had reached a happy medium: not too rich, not too poor.
2. Physics a substance, as air, through which a force acts or is carried:
   the medium of air through which sound waves travel.
3. a means by which something is accomplished:
   Words are a medium of expression.
4. Dialect Terms one of the means or channels of general communication or entertainment in society, as newspapers or television.
5. surrounding conditions or influences;
   environment:
   In the air the bird was in its natural medium.
6. one who claims to be able to contact the spirits of the dead.
7. Fine Art the material or technique with which an artist works.

adj. [usually: before a noun]

8. halfway between extremes in degree, quantity, position, or quality:
   He was of medium build.

See -medi-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•di•um  (mē′dē əm), n., pl. -di•a (-dē ə) for 1–9, 11, -di•ums for 1–11, 14, adj. 
n. 

1. a middle state or condition;
   mean.
2. something intermediate in nature or degree.
3. Physics an intervening substance, as air, through which a force acts or an effect is produced.
4. the element that is the natural habitat of an organism.
5. surrounding objects, conditions, or influences;
   environment.
6. an intervening agency, means, or instrument by which something is conveyed or accomplished:
   Words are a medium of expression.
7. Dialect Terms one of the means or channels of general communication, information, or entertainment in society, as newspapers, radio, or television.
8. [Biol.] the substance in which specimens are displayed or preserved.
9. Also called culture medium. [Bacteriol.] a liquid or solidified nutrient material suitable for the cultivation of microorganisms.
10. a person through whom the spirits of the dead are alleged to be able to contact the living.
11. Fine Art
    • [Painting.] a liquid with which pigments are mixed.
    • the material or technique with which an artist works:
      the medium of watercolor.
12. Printing a size of printing paper, 18½ × 23½ in. (47 × 60 cm) in England, 18 × 23 to 19 × 25 in. (46 × 58 to 48 × 64 cm) in America.
13. Printing [Chiefly Brit.] a size of drawing or writing paper, 17½ × 22 in. (44 × 56 cm).
14. Transport, Dialect Terms Also called medium strip. [Midland U.S.] See median strip. 
15. Show Business in medium, [Motion Pictures, Television.] with the principal actors in the middle distance:
    The scene was shot in medium.

adj. 

16. about halfway between extremes, as of degree, amount, quality, position, or size:
    Cook over medium heat. He is of medium height.

• Latin: the middle, noun, nominal use of neuter of medius middle. See mid¹
• 1575–85

Synonyms

• 16. average, mean, middling.

Usage

7. See media ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Media / ˈmiːdɪə/ noun

1. an ancient country of SW Asia, south of the Caspian Sea: inhabited by the Medes; overthrew the Assyrian Empire in 612 bc in alliance with Babylonia; conquered by Cyrus the Great in 550 bc; corresponds to present-day NW Iran

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

medium / ˈmiːdɪəm/ adjective

1. midway between extremes; average
2. (of a colour) reflecting or transmitting a moderate amount of light
   Compare light129, dark2

noun ( -dia / -dɪə/, -diums)

1. an intermediate or middle state, degree, or condition; mean: the happy medium
2. an intervening substance or agency for transmitting or producing an effect; vehicle
3. a means or agency for communicating or diffusing information, news, etc, to the public
4. a person supposedly used as a spiritual intermediary between the dead and the living
5. the substance in which specimens of animals and plants are preserved or displayed
6. short for culture medium
7. the substance or surroundings in which an organism naturally lives or grows
8. the category of a work of art, as determined by its materials and methods of production
9. the materials used in a work of art
10. any solvent in which pigments are mixed and thinned

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin: neuter singular of medius middleUSAGE
media1