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

An attendee at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday night could be clearly heard calling for Democratic Senate candidates to be shot. — Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026

The panel's decision comes even as the Supreme Court is already considering the same case, which is part of a frenzied legal rush as states are beginning to send out mail ballots for this fall's midterm elections. — Nicholas Riccardi, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

There was a dilemma at the heart of the Republican midterm convention that every speaker had to navigate in their own way. — W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

As the party’s midterm messenger and finance guru, Vance’s political fortunes will be closely tied to the election's outcome. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 10 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