medium
/ˈmiː.di.əm/- 1.
A way of communicating, working, or expressing something, such as print, television, or the internet. It can also mean a substance or space where something grows, moves, or happens.
- Television is still a powerful medium.
- Water is the medium for many fish.
- 2.
A person who says they can talk to spirits, or a person or thing that acts as a link between two sides.
- The medium claimed to contact the dead.
- The app acts as a medium between buyers and sellers.
Average in size, amount, or level. It is used especially for choices like food sizes or difficulty levels.
- I ordered a medium coffee.
- The test was medium difficulty.
Adinary Nuance
Medium is not the same as media. Media usually means the whole group of communication channels, while medium is one channel or form, like film or radio. It can also mean 'average size', which is a separate common use. In writing, medium often sounds more formal than everyday words like 'way' or 'tool' when you mean a form of communication.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phương tiện
- Spanish
- medio
- Chinese
- 媒介
- Japanese
- 媒体
- Korean
- 매체
Etymology
Medium comes from Latin medium, meaning 'middle' or 'middle thing'. English took it in the late Middle Ages through Latin and French.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between medium and media?
- **Medium** is one form or channel. **Media** is the plural form, or it can mean the whole communication industry.
- Is medium formal or informal?
- It is neutral, but it often appears in formal or academic writing.
- Can medium mean average size?
- Yes. In shops and menus, **medium** often means neither small nor large.
- How do I use medium in a sentence?
- You can say, 'Radio is a useful medium for news.'