medium

1 of 2

noun

me·di·um ˈmē-dē-əm

plural mediums or media ˈmē-dē-ə

Synonyms of medium next

: something in a middle position

These shirts are all mediums.

: a middle condition or degree : mean

Look for a happy medium.

: a means of effecting or conveying something: such as

a plural usually media

(1)

: a channel or system of communication, information, or entertainment compare mass medium

(2)

: a publication or broadcast that carries advertising

(3)

: a mode of artistic expression or communication

as his literary medium he has chosen a biographical form—

Ernest Newman

(4)

: something (such as a magnetic disk) on which information may be stored

media plural : digital audio or video files available for playback or streaming

… the free video broadcasts can be downloaded to portable media players from a number of popular pod[cast] and vodcast Web sites.—

Steve Miller

Apple's current keyboards can use the function keys … for alternate functions such as controlling volume, screen brightness, media playback …—

Dan Frakes

: material or technical means of artistic expression (such as paint and canvas, sculptural stone, or literary or musical form)

plural mediums : an individual held to be a channel of communication between the earthly world and a world of spirits

e(1)

: a substance regarded as the means of transmission (see transmission sense 1) of a force or effect

air is the medium that conveys sound

(2)

: a surrounding or enveloping substance

(3)

: the tenuous material (such as gas and dust) in space that exists outside large agglomerations (see agglomeration sense 2) of matter (such as stars)

interstellar medium

: go-between, intermediary

the medium of introduction was no doubt … the publisher—

Richard Garnett

: a condition or environment in which something may function or flourish

Ocean fish live in a medium of salt water.

b plural media

(1)

: a nutrient system for the artificial cultivation of cells or organisms and especially bacteria

(2)

: a fluid or solid in which organic (see organic entry 1 sense 1) structures are placed (as for preservation or mounting)

: a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter

Is media singular or plural?: Usage Guide

The singular media and its plural medias seem to have originated in the field of advertising over 70 years ago; they are still so used without stigma in that specialized field. In most other applications media is used as a plural of medium. The popularity of the word in references to the agencies of mass communication is leading to the formation of a mass noun, construed as a singular.

there's no basis for it. You know, the news media gets on to something —

Edwin Meese 3d

the media is less interested in the party's policies —

James Lewis, Guardian Weekly

This use is not as well established as the mass-noun use of data and is likely to incur criticism especially in writing.

medium

2 of 2

adjective

: intermediate in quantity, quality, position, size, or degree

Example Sentences

Noun These shirts are all mediums and I take a large. Make my French fries a medium. Her preferred medium is sculpture. The artist works in two media , pencil and watercolor. Adjective These T-shirts are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. a person of medium build How would you like your steak, sir: rare, medium, or well-done? See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The bio sponges that come with the kit (and serve as the planting medium) improve germination rates and help encourage roots to grow downward rather than in a spiral that may end up strangling the plant. —

Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023 These provide the context and the medium for the actions of the individual. —

IEEE Spectrum, 1 Mar. 2023 In a large nonstick pan, heat the canola oil over medium. —

Paul Kita, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023 Reduce speed to medium and beat in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated. —

Torie Cox, Country Living, 27 Feb. 2023 Data are starting to look more and more like a form of money itself — a way to exchange and transact, a way to represent work completed, and a medium that can be traded, sold, or shared. —

Jennifer Hinkel, STAT, 24 Feb. 2023 In fact, fashion at its best often comes from locations that seem to have little relationship to the medium; there’s a reason workwear and uniforms remain such rich fodder for designers. —

Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Feb. 2023 In addition to vitamin D3, this Source Naturals supplement contains lemon and orange essential oils and medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). —

Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Verywell Health, 15 Feb. 2023 Herschel: The brand's Trade luggage is 50 percent off right now, including its small, medium, and large carry-ons. —

Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2023

Adjective

More to Know: Imparting a natural, radiant, medium-coverage finish, this concealer is designed not to crease. —

Kiana Murden, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2023 Tear chicken into small pieces and add back to the broth, stir, and cook over medium-low heat 20 minutes. —

Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023 Earlier this week, The Devil Wears Prada actress took a phone call on a New York City sidewalk in a pair of medium-wash blue jeans that were cuffed at the hem. —

Claire Harmeyer, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023 The same holds true for medium bags that are eight pounds and under and large bags at 10 pounds or less. —

Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023 While the pasta cooks, prepare or reheat your sauce in a wide pan or skillet and keep it over medium-low heat. —

Marygrace Taylor, SELF, 2 Mar. 2023 And while neither revealed many details about the content of the photo — Martin reposted the pic to his own grid — the message was clear: J.Lo has switched to a deeper, more medium-brown shade than her usual color. —

Marci Robin, Allure, 1 Mar. 2023 So, people with thick, coarse, and medium-length hair will experience the best results from this. —

Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2023 Four medium-severity vulnerabilities include a use after free in GPU, a heap buffer overflow flaw in WebUI, and a type confusion vulnerability in Data Transfer. —

Kate O'flaherty, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'medium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.