midterm

/ˌmɪdˌˈtʌrm/

/ˈmɪdtəm/

Other forms: midterms

Midterm is the exact middle of a semester or of a politician's time in office. A midterm exam is given near the halfway point of the academic term.

A school year is typically divided into semesters, trimesters, or quarters, and each of these can be called a term. Likewise, a president, governor, or representative serves a specific length of time that is called a term, whether it lasts one year, two years, or six years. The middle of a term, therefore, is a midterm, from mid-, from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "middle," and term, from the Old French terme, "duration."

Definitions of midterm

1. noun

   middle of an academic term or a political term in office
   type of:

   point, point in time

   an instant of time
2. noun

   an examination administered in the middle of an academic term
   synonyms: midterm exam, midterm examination

   type of:

   exam, examination, test

   a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
3. noun

   the middle of the gestation period
   type of:

   point, point in time

   an instant of time