middle-of-the-road

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-of-the-road ˈmi-dᵊl-əv-ṯẖə-ˈrōd How to pronounce middle-of-the-road (audio)
Synonyms of middle-of-the-roadnext
: standing for or following a course of action midway between extremes
especially : being neither liberal nor conservative in politics
middle-of-the-roader noun
middle-of-the-roadism noun

middle of the road

2 of 2

noun phrase

: a course of action or a standpoint midway between extremes

Synonyms of middle-of-the-road

Examples of middle-of-the-road in a Sentence

Adjective a candidate with middle-of-the-road views on most hot-button issues
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But some form of change appears to be needed, with the Heat currently on track to be in the play-in tournament for a fourth straight year amid another middle-of-the-road season. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026 Perhaps there’s a team out there that needs more defensive depth in its system and might be willing to give the Flyers a second- or third-round pick or even a middle-of-the-road prospect in exchange for Andrae. Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun phrase
In the middle of the road at 32nd Street & Cedar Ave, a makeshift roadblock turned the intersection into a roundabout. Ubah Ali, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 The plot thickens further when Bundle, driving hell-for-leather down a country lane, comes across someone lying in the middle of the road. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle-of-the-road

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun Phrase

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of middle-of-the-road was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Middle-of-the-road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle-of-the-road. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

middle-of-the-road

adjective
mid·​dle-of-the-road
ˌmid-ᵊl-əv-t͟hə-ˈrōd
: standing for or following a course of action midway between extremes
especially : being neither liberal nor conservative in politics
middle-of-the-roader
-ˈrōd-ər
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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