Middle Ages

plural noun

: the period of European history from about a.d. 500 to about 1500

Examples of Middle Ages in a Sentence

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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.
Ironically, most critics today think of him as part of the Middle Ages himself. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 Over the centuries, others built on this foundation, including Thomas Aquinas during the High Middle Ages. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Using insurance contracts to bet on the outcomes of wars was so commonplace in the late Middle Ages that the practice was legally prohibited in Genoa. — Stuart Jeffries, Air Mail, 4 Apr. 2026 Old English was a precursor to modern English and was spoken in England during the early Middle Ages. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for Middle Ages

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Middle Ages was in 1616

Rhymes for Middle Ages

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Browse Nearby Words

middle-aged
Middle Ages
middle-aging
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Cite this Entry

“Middle Ages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Middle%20Ages. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Middle Ages

plural noun
: the period of European history from about a.d. 500 to about 1500

More from Merriam-Webster on Middle Ages

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Middle Ages

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