mediums: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “mediums” mean?
The plural form of 'medium', referring to multiple means, channels, or substances through which something is conveyed or accomplished.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of 'medium', referring to multiple means, channels, or substances through which something is conveyed or accomplished; also, people who claim to communicate with the dead.
Can refer to multiple materials or techniques in art (e.g., painting mediums like oil or watercolour), multiple spiritual intermediaries, multiple sizes between small and large, or multiple environments for growing cultures in biology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Both prefer 'media' for mass communication. In spiritualist contexts, 'mediums' is universal.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties for most contexts. In art contexts, slightly more technical.
Frequency
Similar frequency. The word is less common than the singular 'medium' or the plural 'media'.
Grammar
How to Use “mediums” in a Sentence
[mediums] of [communication/expression][mediums] for [painting/growth][mediums] who [claim/communicate]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to various advertising or communication channels (e.g., 'We will utilise multiple marketing mediums.').
Academic
Used in art history, biology (culture mediums), and sociology (e.g., 'The study examined spiritual mediums in Victorian society.').
Everyday
Most commonly heard in art contexts (e.g., 'She works in several mediums.') or discussing psychics.
Technical
In microbiology: 'The bacteria were grown on different nutrient mediums.' In art conservation: 'The interaction of various painting mediums was analysed.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mediums”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mediums”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mediums”
- Using 'mediums' as the plural for mass communication (incorrect: 'TV and radio are important mediums'; correct: '...are important media').
- Using 'medias' as a plural (non-standard).
- Confusing 'mediums' (plural noun) with 'medium's' (possessive).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Media' is the technically correct plural for mass communication channels. Using 'mediums' in this context is widely considered an error, though it is sometimes heard informally.
Yes, but typically for individual, specific means of communication or expression (e.g., 'English and Spanish are the mediums of instruction'), not for the collective mass media industry.
A 'medium' is a means, channel, or intermediary. A 'median' is a statistical term for the middle value in a set of numbers, or the strip of land dividing a highway.
'Media' is the original Latin plural. In English, 'media' has been reanalysed as a singular collective noun for press/broadcasting, while 'mediums' is used for other meanings (spiritualists, artistic materials).
The plural form of 'medium', referring to multiple means, channels, or substances through which something is conveyed or accomplished.
Mediums is usually neutral to formal in register.
Mediums: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.di.əmz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.di.əmz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A jack of all trades and master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'mediums' as the 'middle-men' (plural) – they are in the middle, conveying something between two points, whether it's a message, paint, or a spirit.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MEDIUM IS A CONDUIT / CHANNEL. (Ideas, spirits, or effects flow through it.)
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'mediums' correctly?