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What Is 'Mid?' Everything About The Internet's New Favorite Slang Insult And How To Use It
When did "mid" become the internet's favorite slang insult? Does "mid" mean "average" or does it actually imply something worse? If "mid" is mediocre, what does "mid or feed" even mean? Learn everything about "mid" and all its meanings in our guide here.
Where Does "Mid" Come From?
The word "mid" was originally used in cannabis culture slang as a shorter version of "mid-grade," a term used to denote marijuana strains that are medium in strength or quality. The word has been used by weed enthusiasts since at least 2004 when it was first defined on Urban Dictionary, but likely since much earlier.
The slang word started spreading into the mainstream through music culture, with listeners using the word to describe the quality of new album releases. Most notably, the word was used to refer to Drake's September 2021 release Certified Lover Boy, which many considered to be "mid," and posts referring to the album as such went viral on Twitter.
Soon after that, the word went viral on TikTok with a clip of wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman saying, "It's called Midwest because every single thing in it is mid."
After that, it took the word a few months of continuously increasing use online to enter the internet's vocabulary as "mediocre." "Mid" gets thrown around a lot as an insult, especially when appraising one's looks and/or personality, but is also used a lot to make puns and jokes.
It's important to mention that "mid" has at least one other meaning in slang. In MOBA games such as League of Legends and DotA 2, "mid" refers to the middle lane, and "to go mid" means that a player claims that lane for themselves.
"Mid" Usage In Memes
It's Called the Midwest Because Every Single Thing in It Is Mid
It's Called The Midwest Because Every Single Thing in It Is Mid is a viral video in which AEW wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman shouts how everything in the Midwest United States is mid. The speech went viral in lip-dubs on TikTok where users showed off things they think are mid – such as mediocre video games or Netflix shows.
She's Mid / Did He Seriously Just Say Mid
She's Mid / Did He Seriously Call Me Mid is series of memes centered around the concept of calling women mid. Spawned by a Sigma Male meme Twitter account and assisted by a viral tweet from influencer Anuhea Nihipali, the meme format achieved brief virality on Twitter in late April 2022.
What Does It Mean To Go Mid?
Unlike the other, better-known and modern definition of "mid," to go mid means to go to the middle lane in MOBA games such as League of Legends. The phrase "mid or feed" means that the player picks the mid lane for themselves, and intends to throw the game if anyone contests them.
Examples of "Mid" in a Sentence
- Dude, what did you bring? This is so mid.
- I dunno what Fantano says about Yachty's new release, this is as mid as it gets.
- *swipes left* Mid…
For the full history of Mid, be sure to check out our full entry on the slang word here for even more information.