‘Mid’ meaning – Origins, Usage, & Variations
If you often find yourself on social media platforms, you may have come across the slang word ‘mid’ to describe something. If however, you’re in the dark over what it means, you’ve come to just the place. Let’s get straight to it!
What does the word ‘mid’ mean in slang?
The term ‘mid’ is used to describe anything that’s considered to be mediocre, average, or low quality. It’s usually seen as an insult, albeit a humorous one.
Origins of the slang word ‘mid’ in pop culture
The term ‘mid’ doesn’t have the most favourable origins. The term was derived in the context of cannabis use, where it was used to describe “mid-grade” weed that was average in quality or potency. There has also been some suggestion that the term is derived from the gaming community, however this is still in dispute.
The term was used in this way since at least the early 2000s, and began to be used in the more general sense in the early 2010s to describe anything that’s mediocre, or not as impressive as it was hoped to be. The term gained significant traction through viral trends on platforms like TikTok, where users frequently use it to describe things like music, movies, fashion, or even people as ‘mid’. Since then the term has become a favorite and humorous insult for young generations such as Generation Z.
Variations of the word ‘mid’ in everyday language
If your talking to someone who may not necessarily have heard of the slang word ‘mid’ then you may prefer to use an alternative word or phrase instead. Here are some such alternatives to consider using:
- Blah
- Meh
- Average
- Mediocre
- Poor
- Bland
- Boring
- So-so
- Nothing special
- Low quality
- Intermediate
- Middle
- Adequate
- Halfway
- Middle of the road
How the word ‘mid’ is used in social media and beyond
The slang word ‘mid’ is frequently used on several different social media platforms including the likes of X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, and more. It’s a slang word that’s only appropriate for casual, informal conversations and should not be used in professional or academic contexts. You
Examples of the word ‘mid’ in typical conversations
Here follows several examples of the word ‘mid’ in everyday conversation:
- I watched the new season of Prison Break. I loved the first couple of seasons, but I thought the newest one was pretty mid.
- Have you tried the new Italian restaurant in town? Everyone rants and raves about it, but I thought it was mid at best.
- Liam Gallagher’s new music album was mid compared to Noel’s.
- Compared to the book, the Gone Girl film was so mid.
- Store-bought chicken tikka masala is very mid compared to the local take-away.
Final word
So, the slang word ‘mid’ is used to describe anything that’s considered to be average or poor in quality. It’s a recent term with dubious origins that has become a hit with Gen Z thanks to viral use on apps like TikTok.
