midterm

American  

[mid-turm] / ˈmɪdˌtɜrm /

noun

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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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

The professors traced this midterm pattern to the elevated level of uncertainty that prevails before the midterms and the resolution of that uncertainty after the midterms.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

The professors traced this midterm pattern to the elevated level of uncertainty that prevails before the midterms and the resolution of that uncertainty after the midterms.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Not only does he have a state visit from King Charles in the diary for later this month, followed by a summit with China's President Xi Jinping in May, there are midterm elections in November.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“Traders are looking past the headlines. The market is pricing in midterm resolution despite short-term escalation,” said Birringer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

You’re late to his class, you get docked in a very big way: thirty points off the midterm.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin