medieval

Or me·di·ae·val

[mee-dee-ee-vuhl, med-ee-, mid-ee-, mid-ee-vuhl]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or in the style of the Middle Ages.

   medieval architecture.

2. Informal.,  extremely old-fashioned; primitive.

medieval

/ ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or in the style of the Middle Ages

2. informal,  old-fashioned; primitive

medieval

1. A descriptive term for people, objects, events, and institutions of the Middle Ages.

“Medieval” is sometimes used as a term of disapproval for outdated ideas and customs. It may suggest inhuman practices, such as torture of prisoners. (See Inquisition.)

Other Word Forms

• medievally adverb
• antimedieval adjective
• antimedievally adverb
• postmedieval adjective
• pseudomedieval adjective
• pseudomedievally adverb
• quasi-medieval adjective
• unmedieval adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of medieval¹

1820–30; < New Latin medi ( um ) aev ( um ) the middle age + -al ¹. See medium, age

Word History and Origins

Origin of medieval¹

C19: from New Latin medium aevum the middle age. See _medium , _age

Example Sentences

Its roots lie in the medieval stonemasons' guilds, and members still meet in "lodges" to carry out secretive initiation rituals and ceremonies based on allegories such as the building of King Solomon's Temple.

From BBC

He practically governs by fiat on Truth Social as if he were a medieval lord, while his minions relentlessly disperse their anger and vitriol across cyberspace.

From Salon

The setting in St George's Hall inside Windsor Castle is a remarkable sight, a mix of medieval banquet and Harry Potter film.

From BBC

It’s a work of pageantry, inspired in part by Hull’s fascination with medieval morality plays, specifically the story of “Everyman,” an examination of self and of our relationship to a higher power.

From Los Angeles Times

A 2022 lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union called the conditions “medieval.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• Gothic 
• antique 
• archaic 
• feudal 
• primitive