medley: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical (in music and sport contexts); Informal/Neutral (for general mixture)
Quick answer
What does “medley” mean?
A mixture or assortment of different things, especially a collection of musical pieces played as a continuous performance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mixture or assortment of different things, especially a collection of musical pieces played as a continuous performance.
A diverse mixture of disparate or unrelated items, elements, or types; also used in sports to describe a race where each swimmer uses a different stroke.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. Usage is largely identical across both varieties.
Connotations
In British English, its use in describing a 'mixed grill' (medley of grilled meats) is slightly more common. In American English, 'medley' is frequently used in culinary contexts (e.g., 'vegetable medley').
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English, particularly in food and music marketing.
Grammar
How to Use “medley” in a Sentence
[a/an] + [adjective] + medley + of + [plural noun]medley + [prepositional phrase: of something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “medley” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb use.
American English
- No standard verb use.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The medley relay team won gold.
- He swam the 200m individual medley event.
American English
- She competed in the medley race.
- They performed a medley arrangement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The report was a medley of conflicting data points.'
Academic
Used in humanities: 'The text presents a medley of historical narratives.'
Everyday
Common in describing food, music, or a mix of items: 'The party playlist was a fun medley of 80s hits.'
Technical
Specific term in swimming (medley relay, individual medley) and music (a performed sequence of songs).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “medley”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “medley”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “medley”
- Using 'medley' to mean a single, unified thing (incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'medly' or 'medely'.
- Using it as a verb (it is primarily a noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'medley' is not standardly used as a verb. It functions almost exclusively as a noun and occasionally as an attributive noun (acting like an adjective, e.g., 'medley relay').
A 'medley' often implies the components are distinct and identifiable within the whole, and can suggest a deliberate or performed combination (especially in music/sport). A 'mixture' is more general and can imply a more blended or homogeneous result.
It is neutral, but context gives it connotation. It can be positive ('a delightful medley'), negative ('a confusing medley'), or neutral ('a medley of styles').
It comes from the Anglo-Norman French 'medlee', meaning 'hand-to-hand combat' or 'intermingling', and ultimately from the Old French 'medler' (to mix), which is also the root of the English verb 'meddle'.
A mixture or assortment of different things, especially a collection of musical pieces played as a continuous performance.
Medley is usually formal / technical (in music and sport contexts); informal/neutral (for general mixture) in register.
Medley: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛdli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛdli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A medley of emotions”
- “A veritable medley of... (used for emphasis)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MEDLEY as a MEDley of different things all thrown into one LEY (field).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MEDLEY (a mixture of diverse experiences).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'medley' used as a specific technical term?