• mid-term

From mid- +‎ term.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪdˌtɚm/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

midterm (not comparable)

1. Halfway through a term, or roughly so.

   The administration is suffering from the usual midterm drop in approval ratings.

   • 2008 April 23, Amy Sullivan, “A Primary with No End”, in TIME‎^[1], archived from the original on 16 March 2014, retrieved 3 July 2015:

     Most of the rational world . . . foresaw a smooth ride to victory for Democrats. They had, after all, the wind at their backs from the 2006 midterm elections.

• Not to be confused with medium-term.

midterm (plural midterms)

1. (education) A midterm school exam (i.e., halfway through the term).

   Synonym: midterm examination

   I only got a C on the midterm, so I really have to study for the final.

   • 2005 April 13, Robert MacMillan, “Steal This Song”, in The Washington Post‎^[2], archived from the original on 7 September 2008, retrieved 3 Oct. 2008:

     It was tough cramming for those midterms and finals, staying up 72 hours straight hepped up on caffeine and pizza.

2. (politics) A midterm election.
   • 2025 July 27, Emma Marsden, “Donald Trump's Favorability Rating Falls With AAPI Adults”, in Newsweek‎^[3], archived from the original on 29 July 2025:

     The AAPI electorate has become more politically engaged in recent election cycles, and although it is not a voting bloc that has historically shown strong support for Trump, growing skepticism toward him could influence key battlegrounds in the 2026 midterms and beyond.

   • 2026 February 13, Nick Miroff, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Michael Scherer, “Kristi Noem’s Audience of One”, in Jeffrey Goldberg, editor, The Atlantic‎^[4], Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     But White House officials have privately grown frustrated with her performance, as Republican midterm strategists raise alarms about the political damage.

     (Can we archive this URL?)

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