Middle Ages

plural noun

: the period of European history from about a.d. 500 to about 1500

Examples of Middle Ages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But recent research pushes back against the depiction of the early Middle Ages as ignorant and superstitious, arguing that there is a consistency and rationality to healing practices at that time. Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 The Cheerios are a modern twist, but since the Middle Ages Jews have been flinging breadcrumbs, scraps of paper or prayers into water on Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish new year. Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023 The Christian monks of Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages never fully resolved the struggle between their aspirations and their distractions. Jamie Kreiner, Time, 5 Jan. 2023 In reality, most Vikings were Middle Ages farmers who wore simple, durable clothing, says Ulla Mannering, an archaeologist who researches North European textiles and costumes at the National Museum of Denmark. Molly Glick, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2021 Since at least the Middle Ages it has been associated with various forms of love — platonic, spiritual and romantic. Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2020 During the early and high Middle Ages in Europe (ca 950 to 1300), the few bodies that were buried face-down in regional graveyards were often placed at the center of church cemeteries, or even inside the holy structures. Andrew Curry, National Geographic, 2 Sep. 2020 The concept of environmentalism, which can be traced to the late Middle Ages in Europe, was hardly built on principles of equality. NBC News, 23 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Middle Ages.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Middle Ages was in 1616

Dictionary Entries Near Middle Ages

Cite this Entry

“Middle Ages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Middle%20Ages. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Middle Ages

noun plural
: the period of European history from about a.d. 500 to about 1500

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