Medium vs. Moderate — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 27, 2024
Medium often refers to an average or middle state in size, amount, or degree; moderate describes something that is reasonable or not extreme in quality or quantity.
Difference Between Medium and Moderate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Medium is commonly used to describe a midpoint in a range, such as size or intensity. For instance, in clothing sizes, medium is between small and large. Moderate, on the other hand, typically refers to the intensity or extent of something, emphasizing its mildness or restraint, like moderate weather.
In the context of opinions or approaches, medium isn't typically used, whereas moderate is often applied to describe viewpoints that are not extreme, reflecting a balanced perspective. This usage underscores a sense of reasonableness and avoidance of extremes in politics or social attitudes.
When discussing physical conditions, medium can specify the strength or degree, like medium heat on a stove, which directly indicates a level of power. Moderate is used more broadly to suggest a gentle or not excessive state, such as moderate exercise, which is neither too light nor too intense.
In communication and media, medium refers to the channel or method through which information is conveyed, like print media or digital media. Moderate does not apply in this context, as it doesn't relate to methods of communication but rather to the quality or measure of attributes.
In culinary terms, medium often describes the desired cook of meat, positioned between rare and well-done, indicating a specific level of cooking. Moderate, however, could describe the seasoning level, such as moderately spicy, highlighting not the method but the mildness in flavor.
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Comparison Chart
Usage in Size
Refers to a middle size
Not commonly used for sizes
Usage in Opinions
Not used for opinions
Describes balanced, not extreme views
Usage in Intensity
Indicates specific level
Implies mildness, not excessive
Usage in Communication
Describes type of communication channel
Not applicable
Usage in Cooking
Level of doneness in meats
Describes degree of seasoning
Compare with Definitions
Medium
Intermediate in quality or value.
The film received medium reviews—not too bad but not excellent.
Moderate
Not extreme, within reasonable limits.
He has moderate views on taxation.
Medium
The channel or method of communication.
Digital mediums have transformed how we receive news.
Moderate
Of average quality or intensity.
The hike was of moderate difficulty.
Medium
An agency or means of doing something
Using the latest technology as a medium for job creation
Their primitive valuables acted as a medium of exchange
Moderate
Keeping within reasonable or proper limits.
Moderation is key to a healthy diet.
Medium
The intervening substance through which sensory impressions are conveyed or physical forces are transmitted
Radio communication needs no physical medium between the two stations
Moderate
To lessen the intensity.
Medication can moderate the pain.
Medium
A particular form of storage material for computer files, such as magnetic tape or discs.
Moderate
Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme
A moderate price.
Medium
The material or form used by an artist, composer, or writer
Oil paint is the most popular medium for glazing
Moderate
Not violent or subject to extremes; mild or calm; temperate
A moderate climate.
Medium
A person claiming to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and to communicate between the dead and the living.
Moderate
Of medium or average quantity or extent.
Medium
The middle quality or state between two extremes; a reasonable balance
There is a medium between being modest and boastful
Moderate
Of limited or average quality; mediocre.
Medium
About halfway between two extremes of size or another quality; average
Medium-length hair
Plan for the medium term
John is six feet tall, of medium build
Moderate
Opposed to radical or extreme views or measures, especially in politics or religion.
Medium
Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
Moderate
One who holds or champions moderate views or opinions, especially in politics or religion.
Medium
A substance that propagates energy or signals through space via changes in its own state
Air acts as a medium for the transmission of sound waves.
Moderate
To cause to be less extreme, intense, or violent.
Medium
The sparsely distributed gas and dust subsisting in the space between stars.
Moderate
To preside over
She was chosen to moderate the convention.
Medium
Moderate
To become less extreme, intense, or violent; abate.
Medium
An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred
The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
Moderate
To act as a moderator.
Medium
A means of mass communication, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television.
Moderate
Not excessive; acting in moderation
Moderate language
A moderate Calvinist
Travelling at a moderate speed
Medium
Media(used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
Moderate
More than mild, less than severe
Medium
Pl. media(Computers)Any of various kinds of storage devices, such as hard drives or digital audiotape.
Moderate
Mediocre
Medium
Pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic.
Moderate
Average priced; standard-deal
Medium
A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives.
Moderate
Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.
A moderate winter
Medium
The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives.
Moderate
Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.
Medium
A culture medium.
Moderate
One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.
While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so
The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.
Medium
A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved
The medium of lithography.
Moderate
One of a party in Scottish Church history dominant in the 18th century, lax in doctrine and discipline, but intolerant of evangelicalism and popular rights. It caused the secessions of 1733 and 1761, and its final resultant was the Disruption of 1843.
Medium
The materials used in a specific artistic technique
Oils as a medium.
Moderate
(transitive) To reduce the excessiveness of (something)
To moderate rage, action, desires, etc.
Medium
A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency.
Moderate
(intransitive) To become less excessive
Medium
(Chemistry) A filtering substance, such as filter paper.
Moderate
(transitive) To preside over (something) as a moderator
To moderate a synod
Medium
Occurring or being between two degrees, amounts, or quantities; intermediate
Ordered a medium coffee.
Moderate
(intransitive) To act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise
Medium
The material of the surrounding environment, e.g. solid, liquid, gas, vacuum, or a specific substance such as a solvent.
Moderate
To supply with a moderator substance that decreases the speed of neutrons in a nuclear reactor and hence increases likelihood of fission.
A graphite-moderated reactor
Medium
The materials or empty space through which signals, waves, or forces pass.
Moderate
Kept within due bounds; observing reasonable limits; not excessive, extreme, violent, or rigorous; limited; restrained
A number of moderate members managed . . . to obtain a majority in a thin house.
Medium
A format for communicating or presenting information.
Moderate
Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle; as, a moderate winter.
Medium
(microbiology) A nutrient substance, commonly a solution or solid, for the growth of cells in vitro.
Moderate
One of a party in the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, and part of the 19th, professing moderation in matters of church government, in discipline, and in doctrine.
Medium
(biology, horticulture etc.) A substance, structure, or environment in which living organisms subsist, grow or are cultured.
Moderate
To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence, intensity, or excess; to keep within bounds; to make temperate; to lessen; to allay; to repress; to temper; to qualify; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.; to moderate heat or wind.
By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water.
To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive.
Medium
A means, channel, agency or go-between through which communication, commerce, etc is conveyed or carried on, or by which an aim is achieved.
Moderate
To preside over, direct, or regulate, as a public meeting or a discussion; as, to moderate a synod; to moderate a debate.
Medium
(engineering) The materials used to finish a workpiece using a mass finishing or abrasive blasting process.
Moderate
To become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense; as, the wind has moderated.
Medium
A liquid base which carries pigment in paint.
Moderate
To preside as a moderator.
Dr. Barlow [was] engaged . . . to moderate for him in the divinity disputation.
Medium
(painting) A means of expression, in the arts, such as a material (oil, pastel, clay, etc) or method or style (expressionism, jazz, etc).
Acrylics, oils, charcoal, and gouache are all mediums I used in my painting.
Moderate
A person who takes a position in the political center
Medium
Someone who supposedly conveys information from the spirit world.
Moderate
Preside over;
John moderated the discussion
Medium
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
Moderate
Make less fast or intense;
Moderate your speed
Medium
One who fits an item of that size.
Moderate
Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits;
Moderate your alcohol intake
Hold your tongue
Hold your temper
Control your anger
Medium
A half-pint serving of Guinness (or other stout in some regions).
Moderate
Make less severe or harsh;
He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears
Medium
(countable) A middle place or degree.
A happy medium
Moderate
Make less strong or intense; soften;
Tone down that aggressive letter
The author finally tamed some of his potentially offensive statements
Medium
An average; sometimes the mathematical mean.
Moderate
Restrain or temper
Medium
The mean or middle term of a syllogism, that by which the extremes are brought into connection.
Moderate
Being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme;
Moderate prices
A moderate income
A moderate fine
Moderate demands
A moderate estimate
A moderate eater
Moderate success
A kitchen of moderate size
The X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart
Medium
(obsolete) Arithmetically average.
Moderate
Not extreme;
A moderate penalty
Temperate in his response to criticism
Medium
Of intermediate size, degree, amount etc.
Moderate
Marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes;
Moderate in his demands
Restrained in his response
Medium
Of meat, cooked to a point greater than rare but less than well done; typically, so the meat is still red in the centre.
Moderate
Calm or mild.
Expect moderate weather this weekend.
Medium
That is medium the manufactured size.
Medium
To a medium extent.
Medium
That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity.
The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection.
Medium
See Mean.
Medium
A substance through which an effect is transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of sound.
Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.
I must bring togetherAll these extremes; and must remove all mediums.
Medium
An average.
A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.
Medium
A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper.
Medium
The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.
Medium
A source of nutrients in which a microorganism is placed to permit its growth, cause it to produce substances, or observe its activity under defined conditions; also called culture medium or growth medium. The medium is usually a solution of nutrients in water, or a similar solution solidified with gelatin or agar.
Medium
A means of transmission of news, advertising, or other messages from an information source to the public, also called a news medium, such as a newspaper or radio; used mostly in the plural form, i. e. news media or media. See 1st media{2}.
Medium
Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.
Medium
A means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
Medium
The surrounding environment;
Fish require an aqueous medium
Medium
An intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication
Medium
(bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organisms
Medium
An intervening substance through which something is achieved;
The dissolving medium is called a solvent
Medium
A liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
Medium
(biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
Medium
A state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position;
A happy medium
Medium
Someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead;
He consulted several mediums
Medium
Transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public
Medium
An occupation for which you are especially well suited;
In law he found his true metier
Medium
Around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures;
An orange of average size
Intermediate capacity
A plane with intermediate range
Medium bombers
Medium
(of meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside
Medium
Refers to a middle state or size.
She always prefers a medium size in t-shirts.
Medium
Describes a moderate degree of intensity.
Please turn the burner to medium heat.
Medium
A type of material or method used in art.
Oil paint is her preferred medium.
Common Curiosities
Can medium and moderate be used interchangeably in cooking?
No, medium is used to specify levels like heat or doneness, whereas moderate describes the mildness or extent of something like spice.
What contexts are appropriate for using the term 'medium'?
Medium is appropriate when discussing sizes, levels of intensity in settings (like heat or strength), or types of communication channels.
How is moderate used differently from medium?
Moderate often describes qualities like intensity or opinions that are not extreme, focusing on reasonableness.
What does it mean when something is described as moderate in weather?
It means the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, but comfortably mild.
Can the term medium be used in reference to art?
Yes, in art, medium refers to the materials or methods used by an artist, such as acrylics, oils, or digital tools.
What does medium typically refer to?
Medium usually refers to a central point in a range, such as size or intensity.
Is moderate a term that can apply to personal behavior?
Yes, moderate can describe personal behavior that avoids extremes and emphasizes balanced, rational actions.
What is an example of using medium in technology?
In technology, medium could refer to the resolution or quality setting of a device, like medium graphics settings in video games.
In what context would you use medium instead of moderate?
Medium is preferred when discussing sizes, degrees of cooking, or specific levels in various settings, while moderate is more about the quality or extent of attributes.
How do medium and moderate differ in technical settings?
In technical settings, medium often refers to specific quantifiable settings (like medium bandwidth in electronics), whereas moderate is used to describe general performance levels that avoid extremes (like moderate speed).
How does medium differ from moderate in educational settings?
Medium might be used to describe class sizes or resource levels (like medium access to technology), whereas moderate could describe the difficulty of coursework or the pace of a curriculum.
When discussing political views, how would one use moderate?
Moderate in political contexts refers to views or policies that are not radical or extreme, often seen as a balanced position between opposing viewpoints.
Can medium and moderate be used to describe financial investments?
Medium could be used to describe a moderate-risk investment, often indicating a middle ground in terms of risk. Moderate is used more directly to describe the risk itself, such as moderate-risk investments that balance potential returns against potential losses.
In healthcare, how might medium and moderate be applied differently?
In healthcare, medium might be used for dosages or medical imaging settings, while moderate could describe the severity of symptoms or the extent of a recommended exercise routine.
What does it mean if a conference is described as moderate in scale?
If a conference is described as moderate in scale, it means it's neither too large nor too small, likely aiming to cater to a balanced number of participants or topics.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
