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adjective Very common

mid

mihd

Mid (adjective) means being in a middle position; middle. Example: “The event takes place in mid July.”

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adjective
1
Being in a middle position; middle.
"The event takes place in mid July."
"He's in his mid-thirties."
2
Slang: mediocre or unimpressive.
"The new film was pretty mid, to be honest."

How to use mid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually means "middle" (mid-July, mid-thirties), but in modern slang it also means mediocre or unremarkable.

When to use it

The "mediocre" sense is informal internet slang, common among younger speakers online — avoid it in formal writing.

Common pairings
mid-July mid-thirties pretty mid
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Word forms

Plural
mids
Superlative
midmost
Test yourself on “mid” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The event takes place in _____ July.

Etymology

From Old English midd ("middle"), the same root that gives us "middle" and "midway." The slang sense meaning "mediocre" is a recent development, likely influenced by words like "middling."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “mid” mean?

The word “mid” means being in a middle position; middle. In plain terms, usually means "middle" (mid-July, mid-thirties), but in modern slang it also means mediocre or unremarkable.

How do you pronounce “mid”?

“Mid” is pronounced mihd (/mɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “mid” in a sentence?

Here is “mid” used in a sentence: “The event takes place in mid July.”

What part of speech is “mid”?

“Mid” is an adjective.

Where does the word “mid” come from?

The word “mid” comes from Old English. From Old English midd ("middle"), the same root that gives us "middle" and "midway." The slang sense meaning "mediocre" is a recent development, likely influenced by words like "middling.".

Is “mid” a common word?

“Mid” is a very common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mid” have?

“Mid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: being in a middle position; middle.

What is the difference between mid and middle?

They share a meaning, but middle usually stands alone as a noun or adjective — the middle of the road. Mid is more often joined to another word, as in midday, midsummer, or mid-July. Both point to a central position, yet mid tends to work as a prefix while middle stands on its own.

What does mid mean as a prefix?

As a prefix, mid means 'in the middle of' and attaches to a time or place — midnight is the middle of the night, midfield the centre of the pitch, and the mid-1990s the middle of that decade. It marks a point roughly halfway through whatever word follows.

Is mid a real word on its own?

Yes. Although mid often appears joined to other words, it is a genuine adjective meaning middle, as in 'the mid position' or 'mid-morning.' In informal modern slang it has also gained a separate meaning of mediocre or unimpressive, but that is a different, casual usage from the standard 'middle' sense.

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