middle-of-the-road
Americanadjective
-
favoring, following, or characterized by an intermediate position between two extremes, especially in politics; moderate.
-
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
adjective
-
not extreme, esp in political views; moderate
-
of, denoting, or relating to popular music having a wide general appeal
Other Word Forms
- middle-of-the-roader noun
- middle-of-the-roadism noun
Etymology
Origin of middle-of-the-road
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95
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.
The team’s middle-of-the-road defense had no answer for Phoenix’s dizzying offense that shot 57% from the field.
From Los Angeles Times
So, its end is easy to celebrate as a triumph of reason and of middle-of-the-road politics.
From Salon
“We have a large number of middle-of-the-road people who are out there looking for someone to sing their song,” Perlaky said.
From Salon
Broadcast news is a specific, middle-of-the-road animal whose viewers connect with the headline readers as opposed to the depth of the coverage itself.
From Salon
You could buy a humdrum, middle-of-the-road robe from various big-box retailers, but a statement robe signals that you are, in fact, the kind of person who wants to be noticed and appreciated for their taste.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
