medieval

medieval — adjective

1. relating to the period of European history between the 5th and 15th centuries, a

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

relating to the period of European history between the 5th and 15th centuries, a time of castles, knights, and feudal society.

Example

The medieval castle on the hill has stood for over eight hundred years.

attributive use before historical nouns

Rania is studying medieval history at university this year.

Common collocations
  • medieval castle
  • medieval history
  • medieval times
  • medieval period
  • medieval Europe
  • medieval art
  • medieval literature
  • medieval church
  • medieval society
Synonyms
  • mediaeval

    British spelling variant of medieval; identical in meaning

  • feudal

    more specific — refers to the social and political system of the Middle Ages, not the whole period

  • Gothic

    more specific — refers to a style of architecture and art from the later Middle Ages

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

medieval + noun

Usage Note

The exact dates of the Middle Ages vary by scholarly tradition — European historians typically use AD 500–1500, though some sources define the period differently. Common collocates include history, art, literature, architecture, and music as academic fields.

Common Mistakes

Rome was a medieval city.
Rome was an ancient city.
Medieval refers to the period after the fall of Rome, not to Roman or classical times.
Dinosaurs lived in medieval times.
Dinosaurs lived in prehistoric times.
The Middle Ages began long after the dinosaurs disappeared.

2. so old-fashioned or unwilling to accept modern ideas that it seems to belong to

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

so old-fashioned or unwilling to accept modern ideas that it seems to belong to a much earlier and less advanced time.

Example

Amira called the company's dress code medieval and refused to follow it.

figurative pejorative use: describing rules or systems

The hospital still uses paper records — their system feels almost medieval.

Common collocations
  • medieval attitude
  • medieval mentality
  • medieval views
  • medieval punishment
  • medieval system
  • medieval rules
  • medieval mindset
Synonyms
  • outdated

    less forceful; simply means no longer current or useful

  • antiquated

    similar strength but slightly more formal; emphasizes age rather than backwardness

  • archaic

    often used for language or customs that are no longer in use

Antonyms
  • modern

    using the newest ideas, designs, or methods

  • progressive

    supporting new or modern ideas and methods

  • enlightened

    showing sensible and modern understanding of a topic

Grammar Patterns

medieval + noun

noun + be + medieval

Usage Note

Strongly pejorative — use only when you intend to criticize something as extremely outdated or backward. More forceful and dramatic than old-fashioned or outdated. Often used in informal complaints about institutions, systems, or rules.

Common Mistakes

This phone is medieval.' (for any old technology)
This phone is really outdated.
Medieval is a strong, critical term, not a casual synonym for 'old.'
She wore a medieval dress to the party.' (meaning old-fashioned)
She wore an old-fashioned dress to the party.
Medieval in its figurative sense is pejorative, not a description of vintage style.

Word family

  • mediaeval
    adjectiveB2
  • medievalist
    nounC1
  • Middle Ages
    noun phraseB1
  • medievally
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Medieval refers specifically to the Middle Ages (roughly AD 500–1500 in Europe), while feudal describes the social and economic system of lords, vassals, and land ownership that dominated much of that period — not all medieval things are feudal. Gothic refers to a style of architecture, art, and literature from the later Middle Ages (roughly 12th–16th centuries), characterized by pointed arches and ornate stonework. Ancient describes much older civilizations (Greece, Rome, Egypt) and should not be used interchangeably with medieval. For example, a medieval castle is one built in the Middle Ages, but an ancient temple belongs to a far earlier era. A feudal system is a specific medieval political structure, while Gothic cathedrals are a medieval artistic achievement.

medieval ↗feudalGothicancient ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Middle Ages

Prepositions

  • from the medieval period
  • in medieval times
  • during the medieval era

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From the Latin phrase medium aevum meaning 'middle age,' formed from medius ('middle') and aevum ('age, lifetime'). The English word was adopted in the early 19th century from the French médiéval, as historians began dividing history into three periods: ancient, medieval, and modern. The spelling mediaeval (with 'ae') preserves the Latin origin more directly.