golden mean

American  

noun

1. the perfect moderate course or position that avoids extremes; the happy medium.

2. golden section.

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golden mean British  

noun

1. the middle course between extremes

2. another term for golden section

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golden mean Cultural  

1. The desirable middle ground between any two extremes, according to the philosophy of Aristotle.

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Etymology

Origin of golden mean

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

‘A golden mean exists between security and deprivation.’

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

In this way, the virtuous action will be the golden mean, neither too much nor too little.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

And yet, she still recommends Aristotle's "golden mean," which she summarizes as "the right emotion or the right action for the right context in the right amount."

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2022

Others hope to strike a golden mean between full ripeness and not so much.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2016

I’d rather choose the golden mean, which isn’t so golden, and keep my thoughts to myself.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank