medieval
mehd-ee-EE-vuhl
Medieval (adj) means relating to the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE. Example: “We spent the afternoon exploring a medieval town with narrow cobbled streets.”
adj
1
Relating to the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE.
"We spent the afternoon exploring a medieval town with narrow cobbled streets."
"The castle is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in the region."
"She teaches a course on medieval literature."
2
Informally, old-fashioned or harshly primitive.
"The old computer was so slow that using it felt positively medieval."
"Having no heating in winter seemed medieval to the tired students."
"His views on discipline seemed downright medieval."
How to use medieval
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelonging to the Middle Ages, or, casually, seeming outdated and harsh.
Common pairings
medieval castle
medieval times
medieval history
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Word forms
- Plural
- medievals
- Comparative
- more medieval
- Superlative
- most medieval
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We spent the afternoon exploring a _____ town with narrow cobbled streets.
Etymology
From French médiéval, built from Latin medium ("middle") and aevum ("age").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for medieval
See all rhymes for medieval →Frequently asked questions
What does “medieval” mean?
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 In plain terms, belonging to the Middle Ages, or, casually, seeming outdated and harsh.
How do you pronounce “medieval”?
“Medieval” is pronounced mehd-ee-EE-vuhl (/mɪdˈi.vəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “medieval” in a sentence?
Here is “medieval” used in a sentence: “The castle is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in the region.”
What part of speech is “medieval”?
“Medieval” is an adjective.
Where does the word “medieval” come from?
The word “medieval” comes from Latin. From French médiéval, built from Latin medium ("middle") and aevum ("age").
Is “medieval” a common word?
“Medieval” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “medieval” have?
“Medieval” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1500 CE.
Is "medieval" the same as "the Middle Ages"?
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.
Which spelling is correct — "medieval" or "mediaeval"?
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.
What is the difference between "medieval" and "the Dark Ages"?
"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."
Why do people call modern things "medieval"?
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.
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