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

Trump will speak to House Republicans on Monday night at a gathering designed to set the House GOP agenda for the rest of the midterm year. —Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026

The stock market fell 5% this month, and Biden’s 2024 economy grew faster than Trump’s in 2025 — complicating his messaging heading into midterms. —Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026

If he is confirmed for this position, Oklahoma law would trigger a special election during the 2026 midterm elections to fill the remainder of his Senate term. —Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026

Sean Freeder, a University of North Florida political scientist and director of the Public Opinion Research Lab, that is a political warning sign for Republicans as the midterm elections approach. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 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