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

Costs for consumers in the Affordable Care Act marketplace have soared amid expiring ACA premium subsidies, and insurance affordability poses a political threat to Republicans during upcoming midterm elections. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Still, the odds are strongly in his favor — especially in a midterm election serving as a referendum on the deeply unpopular incumbent. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Though Trump is not on the ballot, midterms are usually seen as a referendum on the presidency. — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Data center backlash is also uniting people from across the political spectrum ahead of the midterm elections. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for midterm

• affirm
• bookworm
• budworm
• confirm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm
• ringworm
• tapeworm
• wireworm
• angiosperm
• echinoderm