middle-of-the-road

[ mid-l-uhv-thuh-rohd ]

adjective

1. favoring, following, or characterized by an intermediate position between two extremes, especially in politics; moderate.
2. of, relating to, or describing a type of popular music that avoids extremes of style and is catchy and tuneful enough to have broad appeal. : MOR

noun

1. Also called easy listening. popular music having comparatively conventional, melodic qualities and hence having broad commercial appeal. : MOR

middle-of-the-road

adjective

1. not extreme, esp in political views; moderate
2. of, denoting, or relating to popular music having a wide general appeal

Derived Forms

• ˈmiddle-of-the-ˈroader, noun

Other Words From

• middle-of-the-roader noun
• middle-of-the-roadism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of middle-of-the-road¹

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

It was just something he felt he had to say to have credibility with middle-of-the-road voters.

From The Daily Beast

My two favorite tracks on the LP are the only two that successfully avoid this middle-of-the-road approach.

From The Daily Beast

Middle-of-the-road voters just stopped buying right-wing fear-mongering.

From The Daily Beast

They used code for where to meet, and chose middle-of-the-road hotels.

From The Daily Beast

The idea of peace based on a two-state arrangement has become a boring, middle-of-the-road stance in Israel.

From The Daily Beast

Fusion controlled the convention, voting down the "Middle-of-the-Road" group that adhered to independence.

From Project Gutenberg

For in 1912 Wilson had been in effect the middle-of-the-road candidate, the conservative liberal.

From Project Gutenberg

Present day chemists would acquiesce in this statement after reading Mitchill's "middle-of-the-road" arguments.

From Project Gutenberg