medium

UK: /ˈmiːdiəm/ US: /ˈmidiəm/ ,(mē′dē əm)

Inflections of 'medium' (n):

media

npl

mediums

npl

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

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 © 2026

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::

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