English · Word Candidate

medieval

/ˌmɛd.iˈiː.vəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: medievals

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of or relating to the Middle Ages, the period from approximately 500 to 1500 AD.

Adjective

Examples

The book significantly extends on Rosenstein’s monumental 1990 work, “The Unbroken Chain,” which focused on the genealogies of the major Ashkenazi rabbinic dynasties from medieval times to the present.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Having characteristics associated with the Middle Ages in popular, modern cultural perception: — Archaic.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Someone living in the Middle Ages.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A medieval example (of something aforementioned or understood from context).

Noun

Examples

Thank God for modern remedies: the medievals were often useless or even harmful.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “medieval” mean?

Of or relating to the Middle Ages, the period from approximately 500 to 1500 AD.

Is “medieval” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.