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With its roots medi-, meaning "middle", and ev-, meaning "age", medieval literally means "of the Middle Ages". In this case, middle means "between the Roman empire and the Renaissance"—that is, after the fall of the great Roman state and before the "rebirth" of culture that we call the Renaissance. This same period used to be called the "Dark Ages", since it was believed that in these years civilization all but vanished. And indeed, for most Europeans in these centuries, it was a time of poverty, famine, plague, and superstition, rather than the age of magic, dazzling swordplay, towering castles, and knights in splendid armor displayed in today's graphic novels and video games.
Examples of medieval in a Sentence
S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
The medieval heart of this 955-year-old city is home to one of the most high-tech waste management systems in the world.
—Arkansas Online, 15 June 2025
Seth Sherwood, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Michael McElwain: So there are a handful of other exoplanets known that are transiting in a medieval to atmospheric characterization with the James Webb Space Telescope.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Medieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medieval. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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