middle-of-the-road

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-of-the-road ˈmi-dᵊl-əv-ṯẖə-ˈrōd How to pronounce middle-of-the-road (audio)
: standing for or following a course of action midway between extremes
especially : being neither liberal nor conservative in politics
middle-of-the-roader noun
middle-of-the-roadism noun

middle of the road

2 of 2

noun phrase

: a course of action or a standpoint midway between extremes

Examples of middle-of-the-road in a Sentence

Adjective a candidate with middle-of-the-road views on most hot-button issues
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
After the gut-wrenching loss at Washington, the Bears now have to process being run over by a middle-of-the-road Cardinals team that is 5-4 and was ransacked by the Commanders earlier. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024 McLean's high-level funding and middle-of-the-road posturing may not be enough to overcome the 10% Republican registration advantage in the district, however. Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun phrase
Picture a bus just stopping in the middle of the road and letting everybody get out to take a picture. Shannon Carlin, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 Zoom in: Our average first fall freeze is middle of the road for U.S. states, while some cities like Denver expected it earlier this month and New Orleans' could arrive on Dec. 22. Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for middle-of-the-road 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun Phrase

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of middle-of-the-road was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near middle-of-the-road

middle name

middle-of-the-road

middle of the road

Cite this Entry

“Middle-of-the-road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle-of-the-road. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

middle-of-the-road

adjective
mid·​dle-of-the-road
ˌmid-ᵊl-əv-t͟hə-ˈrōd
: standing for or following a course of action midway between extremes
especially : being neither liberal nor conservative in politics
middle-of-the-roader
-ˈrōd-ər
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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