What does "mixed" mean?

1. (conflicting feelings or results) including both good and bad parts, or positive and negative feelings. 2. (diverse or combined) consisting of different types of things or people put together. 3. (male and female) including both men and women, or boys and girls. 4. (of different races or breeds) coming from two or more different races, cultures, or animal breeds.

mixed

adj.

US //ˈmɪkst// UK //mˈɪkst// mixed

1 conflicting feelings or results (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

including both good and bad parts, or positive and negative feelings.

characterised by a combination of positive and negative elements or reactions.

Example

I have mixed feelings about moving to a new city because I will miss my friends.

Example

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the cinematography while others found the plot derivative.
- consistent
- unanimous
2 diverse or combined (adj.)
A2 Elementary

consisting of different types of things or people put together.

composed of diverse elements, qualities, or individuals.

Example

The bowl was full of mixed nuts like almonds and cashews.

Example

The neighbourhood is a mixed residential and commercial area, featuring quiet apartments alongside busy local shops.
- uniform
- homogeneous

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3 male and female (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

including both men and women, or boys and girls.

comprising or involving individuals of both sexes.

Example

They play in a mixed football team with both men and women.

Example

The school transitioned to a mixed environment in the nineties, ending a century of single-sex education.
- coeducational
- integrated
- single sex
- segregated
4 of different races or breeds (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

coming from two or more different races, cultures, or animal breeds.

originating from two or more different ethnic groups, races, or breeds.

Example

The family has a mixed heritage, with relatives from both Italy and Japan.

Example

The veterinarian noted that the dog was a mixed breed, likely a combination of a retriever and a smaller terrier.
- multiracial
- hybrid
- purebred

Origin

From mix, equivalent to mix + -ed. Compare Middle English mixid (“mixed”, past participle), Old English miscode (“mixed”, preterite). More at mix. In adjectival use, reinforced by French mixte and/or Latin mixtus, past participle of misceō (“mix”), from the same Indo-European root as mix.

Idioms5 entries