midterm

noun

mid·​term ˈmid-ˌtərm (usual for sense 1b) 

-ˈtərm

1

a

: the middle of an academic term

b

: an examination at midterm

2

: the approximate middle of a term of office

Examples of midterm in a Sentence

The students will be busy taking midterms next week.

He dropped the course before midterm.

assessing the President's performance at midterm

Recent Examples on the Web

Data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows Democrats ahead of Republicans in overall fundraising, with more success among House Democrats than senators, as the parties gear up for a fierce 2026 midterm election. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025

President Donald Trump has pushed for the map to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. —Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025

Nearly half of California voters support Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)’s push to create more safe Democratic congressional seats before the midterm election, a new poll found, but support hasn’t crossed the crucial 50 percent threshold and many voters remain undecided. —Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 22 Aug. 2025

Republicans hope to shore up support heading into the midterm elections, which have traditionally gone poorly for the party in power. —Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for midterm

• affirm
• bookworm
• confirm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm
• tapeworm
• wireworm
• angiosperm
• echinoderm
• berm
• ferm