middle age

noun

Synonyms of middle agenext
: the period of life from about 45 to about 64
middle-aged
ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈājd How to pronounce middle age (audio)
adjective
middle-ager
ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈā-jər How to pronounce middle age (audio)
noun

Examples of middle age in a Sentence

as our generation approaches middle age The patient was in late middle age. He feared the approach of middle age.
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.
From ‘middle ages’ to ‘renaissance’ Regulation is far from the only barrier to greater AI uptake in Europe. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 But middle age looks good on Johnson, and his commitment to the hits delivered a wave of feel-good moments throughout the quasi-beach party. — Darah Head, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 Presbyopia — the gradual loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects — commonly develops in middle age and often leads to the need for reading glasses. — Angelica Stabile , Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Even people who carry the APOE4 gene, which increases the risk of later-in-life Alzheimer’s, still benefited from a healthier middle age. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle age

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for middle age

See All Rhymes for middle age

Browse Nearby Words

middle
middle age
middle-aged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Middle age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle%20age. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

middle age

noun
: the period of life from about 45 to about 64
middle-aged
ˌmid-ᵊl-ˈājd
adjective

Medical Definition

middle age

noun
mid·​dle age ˌmid-ᵊl-ˈāj How to pronounce middle age (audio)
: the period of life from about 45 to about 64 years of age
middle-aged
ˌmid-ᵊl-ˈājd How to pronounce middle age (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on middle age

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for middle age

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about middle age

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All