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

As the 2026 midterms approach, affordability will again be the deciding issue among voters. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 13 Jan. 2026

If successful, the investments will provide a foundation that Democrats can rely upon beyond the fall midterm elections. —Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026

DeLauro is running for reelection in November’s midterm elections, seeking her 19th term to serve Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District based in her hometown of New Haven. —Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026

Trump has also enlisted the help of Vice President JD Vance, who visited Pennsylvania at the end of 2025, as the administration seeks to bolster its flagging economic favorability ahead of the midterms. —Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026

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