# medial

/ˈmidiəɫ/ (US) · /mˈiːdiːəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/medial
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

situated in the middle or toward the center of something. In medicine, it describes a part of the body that is closer to the middle line.

For teachers: situated in or pertaining to the middle; in anatomy, specifically relating to the midline of an organism or the inner side of a limb.

## Examples

- The medial part of the knee often feels the most pressure.
- The surgeon made a small incision on the medial side of the ankle to repair the damaged ligament.
- In phonetics, a medial consonant is one that occurs in the middle of a word, contrasting with those found in initial or final positions.

## Usage notes

- Often used in technical or medical contexts to specify location relative to a center point; typically precedes the noun it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.