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

Candidate filing for the 2026 midterms begins at noon on Monday of next week. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 24 Nov. 2025

Their talks held high stakes for the governance of the capital of global finance and for their respective political parties ahead of next year’s midterm elections. —Skylar Woodhouse, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025

Heading into the midterm elections next year, two of the nation’s largest states are toying with some of these irresponsible policies. —Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025

Her departure highlights growing divisions within the Republican Party as the 2026 midterm elections approach and raises questions about the direction and unity of the GOP. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 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