Middle West

American  

[mid-l west] / ˈmɪd l ˈwɛst /

noun

1. a less common term for Midwest.

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Middle West British  

noun

1. another name for the Midwest

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Usage

What does Middle West mean? Middle West is a less common name for the Midwest—the northern central area of the mainland United States. Generally, the boundaries of the Middle West are Canada to the north, the Rocky Mountains to the west, the southern borders of Missouri and Kansas to the south, and the Allegheny Mountains to the east. Sometimes the Middle West is thought of as extending to the eastern border of Illinois or Ohio. The Midwest is one of the United States’ four official regions as defined by the U. S. Census Bureau. Because the Census Bureau doesn’t divide states when defining regions, it sets Ohio as its eastern border. According to the Census, 12 states are located within the Midwest: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Americans themselves often differ in terms of which states they consider to be in the Midwest. Sometimes, states on the fringes, such as Ohio or North Dakota, aren’t considered to be a part of the Midwest. Middle Western is an adjective form of Middle West, but Midwestern is much more commonly used. Similarly, someone from the Middle West can be called a Middle Westerner, but Midwesterner is much more common. Example: I’d love to visit the central United States and see the beautiful scenery of the Middle West.

Other Word Forms

• Middle Westerner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Middle West

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Lauck, an adjunct history teacher at the University of South Dakota and editor of the academic journal Middle West Review, recognizes the imperfections of the region’s progressive virtues during this era.

From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2022

Producer Douglas Thornton with Middle West Studios said work began nearly a decade ago on what was intended to be a 90-minute documentary.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 12, 2018

“Baby boomers relocating from big cities in the Northeast and Middle West and North American and European vacationers want more out of a winter holiday than just a good beach,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2018

In the Middle West, he captured the hearts of Polish- and German-Americans.

From Time • Nov. 23, 2015

On the third day the freight crossed the mountains, and that was the time for unseasonable warm weather throughout the Middle West.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck