Mediterranean

American  

[med-i-tuh-rey-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

---

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

Other Word Forms

• non-Mediterranean
  noun
• trans-Mediterranean
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Mediterranean

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

Example Sentences

Any southerly will drag in the increasingly warm air from the Mediterranean, potentially boosting temperatures into the high twenties.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

They skirt around Africa by following its eastern coast as far as the Cape of Good Hope in southern South Africa before heading back north towards Europe and the Mediterranean.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

“Bookings moderated in March and early April for Mediterranean and West Coast of Mexico itineraries due to geopolitical developments,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Cava, the Mediterranean version of Chipotle, has faced online backlash after raising its kids meal prices and changing the format to what customers say is much less food than before.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

We specialized in Arab and Mediterranean, basically the best food in the world.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda