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

If Republican policies are popular and effective, surely that should be enough to sweep the midterms. — Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

Like everyone else, Paramount is keenly aware of what the polls are projecting going into November’s midterms. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2026

Progressive voter engagement and racial justice groups report steep funding shortfalls and staff cuts just as midterm voting begins, raising alarms about turnout and control of Congress. — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Trump will host the governors of South Dakota, Mississippi, and Arkansas in the Oval Office to tout work on lower drug prices, which Republicans hope to turn into a winning midterms message. — David Lim, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 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