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.
Klotho crests in youth before settling in adulthood and dwindling in middle age. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026 The research, published Wednesday in the journal Neurology Open Access, found that people who avoid three vascular risk factors in middle age — high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking — had about 13 more dementia-free years. — Lily Alvino, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 People were in middle age at the study’s start, and no one had dementia. — Kathleen Felton, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 But Coresh’s new study of more than 12,400 adults quantified how much the combination of these vascular measures in middle age may have influenced when dementia began to set in. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Middle age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle%20age. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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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

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