middle ages: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2formal, academic, historical, occasionally used in everyday discourse for metaphor.
Quick answer
What does “middle ages” mean?
The historical period in Europe from approximately the 5th to the late 15th century, between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The historical period in Europe from approximately the 5th to the late 15th century, between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.
Can refer metaphorically to a period of perceived backwardness, ignorance, or primitive attitudes in any context. Also used to denote an outdated state of mind or technology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core definition or spelling. British English may use the term 'mediaeval' as an alternative spelling for the related adjective slightly more often than American English, though both prefer 'medieval'.
Connotations
Similar in both: historical epoch, potential metaphors for backwardness or barbarity. In academic contexts, the term itself is becoming less judgmental.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and educated general discourse in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “middle ages” in a Sentence
[during/throughout/in] + the Middle AgesADJ (early/late/high) + Middle Agesthe Middle Ages + [as a period/were a time of/are known for]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “middle ages” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The period was often romanticised in Victorian literature.
- Historians periodise the era between antiquity and modernity.
American English
- The exhibit medievalizes the concept of chivalry.
- Scholars debate how to categorize the era.
adverb
British English
- The town was built medievally around the fortress.
- The manuscript was illuminated in a medievally stylised fashion.
American English
- The methods were seen as medievally brutal.
- The society was structured almost medievally.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: "Their data storage policy is from the Middle Ages."
Academic
Primary. Used in history, art history, literature: "The economic systems of the Middle Ages were predominantly agrarian."
Everyday
Common for broad historical reference and metaphor: "We learned about knights in the Middle Ages." "Their views on that are positively medieval."
Technical
Specific in historical disciplines; timeframe may be precisely defined (c. 500–1500 CE).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “middle ages”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “middle ages”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “middle ages”
- Writing it as 'middleages' or 'middle-ages' (should be two words, often capitalized).
- Using it as an adjective (*'a Middle Ages castle') instead of the correct adjective 'medieval' ('a medieval castle').
- Misidentifying the time span (e.g., including the Roman Empire).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring specifically to the historical period as a proper noun (e.g., 'during the Middle Ages'). When used as a general descriptive adjective or metaphor (e.g., 'his views are positively middle ages'), it is often lowercased.
No. 'The Dark Ages' is an older, now often criticised term that traditionally referred only to the earlier part of the Middle Ages (c. 500-1000 CE), emphasizing a perceived lack of cultural and written records. 'The Middle Ages' is the broader, standard term for the entire period (c. 500-1500 CE).
The adjective is 'medieval' (or, less commonly, 'mediaeval'). It is incorrect to use 'Middle Ages' as an adjective (e.g., say 'medieval castle', not 'Middle Ages castle').
There is no single agreed-upon date. Common symbolic endpoints include the fall of Constantinople (1453), the invention of the printing press (c. 1440), or Christopher Columbus's voyage (1492). The transition to the Renaissance was gradual and varied by region.
The historical period in Europe from approximately the 5th to the late 15th century, between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance.
Middle ages is usually formal, academic, historical, occasionally used in everyday discourse for metaphor. in register.
Middle ages: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdl ˈeɪdʒɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdl ˈeɪdʒɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A throwback to the Middle Ages”
- “Something straight out of the Middle Ages (used to criticise something as outdated or barbaric)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a castle in the MIDDLE of a timeline: on one side is Ancient Rome (fallen), on the other is the Renaissance (beginning). The AGE of castles and knights in the MIDDLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A JOURNEY (the Middle Ages is the middle part of the journey of Western history). BACKWARDNESS IS THE PAST (calling something 'medieval' maps the historical past onto a quality of being undeveloped).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a common academic synonym for 'the Middle Ages' that avoids the period's implied 'middle' status?