mid-century
UK: ˌmɪd ˈsen.tʃər.i | US: ˌmɪd ˈsen.tʃər.i
adj. relating to or characteristic of the middle of a century, especially the 20th century (e.g., mid-century modern design).
n. the middle period of a century.
The word "mid-century" is a straightforward compound formed by combining "mid" (from Old English "mid," meaning "middle") and "century" (from Latin "centuria," via Old French, meaning "a hundred years"). The term gained prominence in the mid-20th century to describe design, architecture, and cultural trends of the 1940s–1960s, particularly the "Mid-Century Modern" movement. The logic is purely positional—referring to the middle of a century—but its cultural usage has narrowed to a specific historical era.
The house features iconic mid-century furniture with clean lines and organic shapes.
Mid-century architecture often emphasizes open floor plans and integration with nature.
She collects vintage mid-century ceramics from the 1950s.
The exhibition explores the global influence of mid-century design.
His writing captures the optimism of mid-century America.