via media

noun

A third way; a middle course, a compromise.

Similar
compromise
OriginLatin via media ← ['la ', →
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Meanings

noun
  1. A third way; a middle course, a compromise.

    The quip highlighted the extent to which the philosophes were seeking a via media between what they saw as the morally and intellectually impoverished tradition of Christian revelation and its embattled polar opposite, a sceptical materialism [...].

    2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 199

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna middle way between two extremes

Similar
compromise
Broader
cooperation
Also see
compromisethird way

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. ['la',
  2. Latinvia media
  3. Englishvia media

Learned borrowing from Latin via media (“a middle way”).

More words from Latin, ['la

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

via media. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/via%20media

MLA

“via media.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/via%20media. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “via media,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/via%20media.

Source: via media on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.