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)
: 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

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
All sofas are made-to-order and highly customizable, with this one being a nice middle-of-the-road option that’s smaller than a sectional but larger than a love seat. Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025 This middle-of-the-road approach is central to a Fed comms strategy that’s worked for decades. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun phrase
As the pedestrian stepped into the middle of the road, Delosrios ran him over and kept going, police say. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025 California was much more middle of the road. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

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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 9 Sep. 2025.

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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