medial

adjective

me·​di·​al ˈmē-dē-əl 

1

: mean, average

2

a

: being or occurring in the middle

b

: extending toward the middle

especially : lying or extending toward the median axis of the body

3

: situated between the extremes of initial and final in a word or morpheme

medial noun

medially

ˈmē-dē-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• central
• halfway
• intermediary
• intermediate
• median
• mediate
• medium
• mid
• middle
• midmost

Examples of medial in a Sentence

four is the medial number between one and seven

Recent Examples on the Web

This can cut off the medial nerve that runs through the transverse carpal ligament that serves as a protective sheath for the nerves. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Meanwhile, the Hawks were without Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery), Clint Capela (metacarpal ligament sprain), Jalen Johnson (left shoulder surgery) and Larry Nance Jr. (right medial femoral condyle fracture) against the Heat. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025

The researchers knew that spatial navigation and episodic memories are encoded in the temporal lobe, specifically in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2025

Expanding National Institutes of Health medial research by 60% over the last decade. —Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin medialis, from Latin medius

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing medial

• medial collateral ligament

Rhymes for medial

• dorsomedial
• ventromedial
• postmedial
• remedial

Kids Definition

medial

adjective

me·​di·​al ˈmēd-ē-əl 

1

: median entry 2 sense 1

2

: ordinary entry 2 sense 2, average

medially

-ə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

medial

adjective

me·​di·​al ˈmēd-ē-əl 

1

: lying or extending in the middle

especially, of a body part : lying or extending toward the median axis of the body

the medial surface of the tibia

2

: of or relating to the media of a blood vessel

necrosis and lipid deposition with medial involvement

medially

-ə-lē 

adverb