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

Establishing a new police force would require changing the city charter, meaning voters will have a say come the November midterm elections.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The figures sound a warning ahead of midterm elections on pressures that American households are facing as steeper gasoline prices squeeze budgets and a boost from tax refunds fades.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Talley’s boss, Mike Collins, is the leading contender to take on Democrat Jon Ossoff in November’s Senate midterm elections.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

That isn’t the way this midterm stretch has started out.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

He would tell Master that the garden was something to do until he started school, since the headmistress at the staff school had told Master that he could not start midterm.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie