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Mediterranean

American  
[med-i-tuh-ray-nee-uhn] / ˌmɛd ɪ təˈreɪ ni ən /

noun

  1. Mediterranean Sea.

  2. a person whose physical characteristics are considered typical of the peoples native to or inhabiting the Mediterranean area.

  3. Informal. the, the islands and countries of the Mediterranean Sea collectively.


adjective

  1. pertaining to, situated on or near, or dwelling about the Mediterranean Sea.

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of the peoples native to the lands along or near the Mediterranean Sea.

  3. surrounded or nearly surrounded by land.

Mediterranean British  
/ ˌmɛdɪtəˈreɪnɪən /

noun

  1. short for the Mediterranean Sea

  2. a native or inhabitant of a Mediterranean country

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of, relating to, situated or dwelling on or near the Mediterranean Sea

  2. denoting a postulated subdivision of the Caucasoid race, characterized by slender build and dark complexion

  3. meteorol (of a climate) characterized by hot summers and relatively warm winters when most of the annual rainfall occurs

  4. obsolete (often not capital) situated in the middle of a landmass; inland

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of Mediterranean

1585–95; < Latin mediterrāne ( us ) midland, inland ( see medium, terra, -an, -eous) + -an


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Common octopuses are usually found in the warmer Mediterranean Sea.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Today, my wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and I divide our time between homes in New York and Spain’s Mallorca island, overlooking the Mediterranean.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Its radar altimeter has collected sea surface height data across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

The Mediterranean Revival-style estate, which sits on 2.76 acres in the Beverly Hills Post Office area, offers an enormous 16,079 square feet of living space, along with eight bedrooms and more than 10 bathrooms.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Her eyes were blue, like the Mediterranean Sea.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

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