# medley

/ˈmɛdɫi/ (US) · /mˈɛdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/medley
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a mixture of things

noun · CEFR B2

a collection or mixture of different things that are not usually found together.

For teachers: a diverse assortment or heterogeneous mixture of miscellaneous elements.

- The shop sold a medley of old toys, books, and handmade clothes.
- The buffet offered a medley of international flavours, ranging from spicy Thai curries to traditional French pastries.

### 2. music

noun · CEFR B2

a series of different songs or tunes played one after another as a single piece of music.

For teachers: a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources performed in sequence.

- The band played a medley of their greatest hits to end the concert.
- The orchestra performed a sophisticated medley of themes from classic Hollywood films, seamlessly transitioning between different moods and tempos.

### 3. swimming

noun · CEFR B2

a race where swimmers use four different styles: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

For teachers: a competitive swimming event in which participants or teams perform four distinct strokes in a specific order.

- She won a gold medal in the 200-metre individual medley.
- The relay team broke the national record for the 400-metre medley, showing incredible versatility across all four swimming disciplines.

### 4. combat

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a fight or battle between people.

For teachers: a hand-to-hand fight, combat, or confused battle.

- The knights were lost in the medley of the great battle.
- The historical chronicle describes a chaotic medley of soldiers and horses clashing in the narrow mountain pass.

## Examples

- The band played a medley of their greatest hits.
- The restaurant serves a seafood medley featuring fresh shrimp, scallops, and mussels in a light garlic sauce.
- The closing ceremony featured a vibrant medley of traditional folk tunes and modern pop, designed to showcase the country's diverse cultural evolution over the last century.

---

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.