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Definition of middlegame

middlegame

/ˈmɪd.əl.ɡeɪm/
mid · dle · game
Plural:middlegames
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middlegame Lexical Profile

middlegame Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The intermediate phase of a strategy board game, such as chess or Go, occurring between the opening and the endgame and typically characterized by complex tactical maneuvering.

Example

"After developing his pieces and securing his king, the grandmaster prepared for a highly complicated middlegame."

2

The intermediate stage of any complex process, campaign, strategy, or conflict.

Example

"The political campaign entered its middlegame as both candidates shifted their focus to securing swing states."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

microwave
microwinery
midafternoon
middlegame
midge
midget faded rattlesnake
midland

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'middle' and 'game', popularized in the 19th century as a direct calque (loan translation) of the German chess term 'Mittelspiel'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Middlegame. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/middlegame
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