medley

1 of 2

noun

med·​ley ˈmed-lē How to pronounce medley (audio)
plural medleys
Synonyms of medleynext
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
sports : a race in swimming in which swimmers use a different stroke for each different part of the race
won the individual medley
4
archaic : melee

medley

2 of 2

adjective

: mixed, motley

Synonyms of medley

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Noun

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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
D’Angelo’s children introduced the medley, which was set against a backdrop of floor to ceiling windows looking out on a starry sky. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 And for more of a medley, consider three different colorways to line a midcentury-modern lap pool. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026
Adjective
In the men’s 400m medley, France’s Léon Marchand won his second gold medal of the championships by completing a medley double. — George Ramsay, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2025 The talented Elvis Ron, a medley singer and Elvis impersonator, will provide the afternoon entertainment. — Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025 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 4

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing medley

Rhymes for medley

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Browse Nearby Words

medlar
medley
medley relay
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Cite this Entry

“Medley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medley. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of medley for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about medley

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