mediant

noun

me·​di·​ant ˈmē-dē-ənt How to pronounce mediant (audio)
: the third tone of a major or minor scale

Word History

Etymology

Italian mediante, from Late Latin mediant-, medians, present participle of mediare to be in the middle

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mediant was in 1721

Dictionary Entries Near mediant

Cite this Entry

“Mediant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mediant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mediant

noun
me·​di·​ant ˈmēd-ē-ənt How to pronounce mediant (audio)
: the third tone above the tonic
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!