middle-of-the-road

American  

[mid-l-uhv-thuh-rohd] / ˈmɪd l əv ðəˈroʊd /

adjective

1. favoring, following, or characterized by an intermediate position between two extremes, especially in politics; moderate.

2. 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

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noun

1. Also called easy listening.  popular music having comparatively conventional, melodic qualities and hence having broad commercial appeal. MOR

middle-of-the-road British  

adjective

1. not extreme, esp in political views; moderate

2. of, denoting, or relating to popular music having a wide general appeal

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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

That middle-of-the-road phrasing is a result of the rising perils of wading into hot-button issues in recent years.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

It has been a dramatic transformation for the Remain-voting Newark MP, once dubbed "Robert Generic" by his Tory critics for his supposedly middle-of-the-road political views.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

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 • Feb. 14, 2025

Brown's localizing strategy has traditionally worked in his favor, appealing to "middle-of-the-road constituency that tends to appeal to Ohioans," Neiheisel said.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2024

This "middle-of-the-road" group included some Western leaders of prominence, such as Peffer and Donnelly, but its main support came from the Southern delegates.

From The Agrarian Crusade; a chronicle of the farmer in politics by Buck, Solon J. (Solon Justus)