Middle West

[ mid-l west ]

noun

1. a less common term for Midwest.

Middle West

noun

1. See Midwest
   another name for the Midwest

Other Words From

• Mid·dle West·ern·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Middle West¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The American passenger pigeon, once very abundant in the Middle West, is now extinct.

From Project Gutenberg

In our country, especially in the Middle West, everybody watches everybody else for the least lapse in the democratic spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Van Ralten rejoiced in the loud, penetrating accents of the Middle West, and snatches of her talk were audible.

From Project Gutenberg

The city has a large population,—large enough to include all the types that are to be found in the middle West.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1865 he removed to the middle west, settling in Champaign county, Illinois, where he resided for a decade.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Middle West

What does Middle West mean?

Middle West is a less common name for the Midwest—the northern central area of the mainland United States.

Generally, the boundaries of the Middle West are Canada to the north, the Rocky Mountains to the west, the southern borders of Missouri and Kansas to the south, and the Allegheny Mountains to the east. Sometimes the Middle West is thought of as extending to the eastern border of Illinois or Ohio.

The Midwest is one of the United States’ four official regions as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Because the Census Bureau doesn’t divide states when defining regions, it sets Ohio as its eastern border. According to the Census, 12 states are located within the Midwest: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Americans themselves often differ in terms of which states they consider to be in the Midwest. Sometimes, states on the fringes, such as Ohio or North Dakota, aren’t considered to be a part of the Midwest.

Middle Western is an adjective form of Middle West, but Midwestern is much more commonly used. Similarly, someone from the Middle West can be called a Middle Westerner, but Midwesterner is much more common.

Example: I’d love to visit the central United States and see the beautiful scenery of the Middle West.

Where does Middle West come from?

The first records of the term Middle West referring to the northern central area of the United States come from around the 1860s. Although the Midwestern states are really in the northern central area of the country, the word west indicates their position in relation to the East Coast (the location of the original 13 U.S. colonies).

The terms Midwest and Middle West are often used in American media that focuses on geographic areas or that analyzes demographics. Especially during an election season, political analysts speculate and observe how the states in the Midwest are going to vote.

Many parts of the Middle West are rural, but it also has many urban and suburban areas. The region is especially known for having rich farmland.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to Middle West?

• Middle Western (adjective)
• Middle Westerner (noun)

What are some synonyms for Middle West?

• Midwest

What are some words that share a root or word element with Middle West? 

 

• middle
• west
• Westerner

What are some words that often get used in discussing Middle West?

 

• region
• geography
• north
• central
• United States
• rural
• farmland
• heartland
• breadbasket

How is Middle West used in real life?

Middle West is much less commonly used than Midwest, the word Americans use to refer to the north-central region of the country and the states located there.

Okay, everyone who lives in "the middle west" raise your hands 🙋🏻‍♀️

— Dani Stewart©️🖤 (@d_stew) March 25, 2020

Point of personal privilege: Before Trump referred to the Midwest as "the middle west" during tonight's briefing, the last time I remember someone calling it that was Nick Carraway as he described his upbringing in "The Great Gatsby." I just found it in my hard copy of "Gatsby."

— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) March 26, 2020

I’m gonna start calling the Midwest the Middle West. It’s got more of an edge to it 👌🏼

— 🌿 LG. (@_loonielovegood) October 14, 2020

 

 

Try using Middle West!

True or False?

The Middle West stretches from the border of Canada to the north to the border of Mexico to the south.