midterm

American  

[mid-turm] / ˈmɪdˌtɜrm /

noun

midterms plural

1. the middle or halfway point of a term, as a school term or term of office.

2. Informal. Often midterms. an examination or series of examinations at the middle of a school term.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or occurring on or about the middle of a term, as a school term or term of office.

   a midterm recess; midterm elections.

midterm British  

/ ˈmɪdˈtɜːm /

noun

1. 1. the middle of a term in a school, university, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      midterm exam

2. politics

   1. the middle of a term of office, esp of a presidential term, when congressional and local elections are held

   2. ( as modifier )

      midterm elections

3. 1. the middle of the gestation period

   2. ( as modifier ) See term

      midterm checkup

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• midterms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of midterm

First recorded in 1865–70; mid- + term

Explanation

Midterm is the exact middle of a semester or of a politician's time in office. A midterm exam is given near the halfway point of the academic term. A school year is typically divided into semesters, trimesters, or quarters, and each of these can be called a term. Likewise, a president, governor, or representative serves a specific length of time that is called a term, whether it lasts one year, two years, or six years. The middle of a term, therefore, is a midterm, from mid-, from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "middle," and term, from the Old French terme, "duration."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

midterm midterms

The United States will vote in midterm elections later this year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

His successor will be chosen in the November midterm elections.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Meantime, states and counties are busy with the actual work of making the midterm elections happen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The Times compared the process with previous midterm primaries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

He couldn’t help but remember the two classes he had already dropped out of or the midterm in geology that he’d flunked.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

Polling from the last year suggests healthcare costs remain among the top issues for voters in the November midterms, alongside the rising cost of gas, groceries and housing.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Now, in these midterms, no fewer than seven white clergy or ministers-in-training representing the Democratic Party are vying for congressional seats.

From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026

The number of candidates highlighting Epstein in their campaign messaging, Khanna argued, “shows what a powerful issue this is to win the midterms and win back the trust of the American public.”

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

Over the last few months, Walker has been eager to get back on air, especially with the local primary elections this month and the coming midterms in November.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

“I have midterms and papers due and dirty clothes I never picked up from my bedroom floor, and I have friends, lots of friends.”

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman