medieval

The word “medieval” means relating to the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE. In plain terms, belonging to the Middle Ages, or, casually, seeming outdated and harsh.

“Medieval” is pronounced mehd-ee-EE-vuhl (/mɪdˈi.vəl/ in IPA).

Here is “medieval” used in a sentence: “The castle is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in the region.”

“Medieval” is an adjective.

The word “medieval” comes from Latin. From French médiéval, built from Latin medium ("middle") and aevum ("age").

“Medieval” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Medieval” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE.

They cover the same period — roughly 500 to 1500 CE — but "medieval" is the adjective and "the Middle Ages" is the noun: "medieval castles" but "castles of the Middle Ages." Note the capitals in "the Middle Ages," the name of the period, while "medieval" stays lowercase.

Both are accepted, but "medieval" is now the standard spelling everywhere, including in Britain. "Mediaeval" — sometimes printed with the ligature as "mediæval" — is an older British variant that looks dated today, so use it only when quoting a source that spells it that way.

"Medieval" refers to the whole of the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE, while "the Dark Ages" is an older label for the early part of that span, implying decline after the fall of Rome. Historians now avoid "Dark Ages" as misleading and prefer "early medieval period."

Used of modern conditions or attitudes, "medieval" is an informal criticism meaning crudely old-fashioned, primitive, or harsh: "The plumbing in that hostel is positively medieval." The figurative sense trades on the stereotype of the Middle Ages as brutal and backward, so it suits complaints rather than neutral historical writing.