Did you know?
With its roots medi-, meaning "middle", and ev-, meaning "age", medieval literally means "of the Middle Ages". In this case, middle means "between the Roman empire and the Renaissance"—that is, after the fall of the great Roman state and before the "rebirth" of culture that we call the Renaissance. This same period used to be called the "Dark Ages", since it was believed that in these years civilization all but vanished. And indeed, for most Europeans in these centuries, it was a time of poverty, famine, plague, and superstition, rather than the age of magic, dazzling swordplay, towering castles, and knights in splendid armor displayed in today's graphic novels and video games.
Examples of medieval in a Sentence
AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
Parts of the village date back to medieval times, and the Fort de Tamié, a 19th-century fortress above Albertville, now features zip lines that crisscross hiking trails with levels suitable for all the family to enjoy.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
As cosmopolitan as Venice is, as historically important as one of Europe’s post-Roman, grand medieval and Renaissance trading posts, the town remains a tough nut to crack, socially speaking.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for medieval
Cite this Entry
“Medieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medieval. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share