medley

1 of 2

noun

med·​ley ˈmed-lē How to pronounce medley (audio)
plural medleys
1
: a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short pieces
a medley of show tunes
2
: a diverse assortment or mixture
especially : hodgepodge
a medley of sounds
a medley of desserts
was arrested on a medley of charges
3
archaic : melee

medley

2 of 2

adjective

Examples of medley in a Sentence

Noun a medley of show tunes a medley of snack foods available on the buffet table
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Their approach to that piece of music was almost like an overture medley for a classic Hollywood musical, where all the motifs and elements of the score throughout are put into a blender. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2024 More than 25 Motown gems and other songs will be performed via a tuneful array of solos, duets and group medleys. Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Potocka is a medley specialist with the 200m individual medley her only event in Paris. Ben Burrows and Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024 Nonetheless, to make up for the lack of depth this Olympic season, the team showcased stellar performances in the medley events. Paras J. Haji, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for medley 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English medle, from Anglo-French medlee, from feminine of medlé, past participle of medler to mix — more at meddle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medley was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near medley

Cite this Entry

“Medley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medley. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

medley

noun
med·​ley
ˈmed-lē
plural medleys
1
: mixture sense 2
especially : a confused mixture
2
: a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short musical pieces

More from Merriam-Webster on medley

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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