what does the term mid century mean

Mid-century usually means the middle part of a century, and in everyday use it often refers to the mid-1900s. In design, “mid-century” commonly points to the style from roughly the 1940s through the 1960s, especially furniture and architecture with clean lines and simple forms.

Simple meaning

• As a time term, it means the middle decades of a century.

• As a style term, it usually means the mid-20th century look, especially in interior design.

Example

• “By mid-century, the population had grown rapidly” means around the middle of that century.

• “Mid-century modern furniture” means a design style associated with the mid-1900s.

In plain English

If someone says “mid-century house” or “mid-century modern,” they usually mean a home or style from about the 1940s to 1960s, not literally the exact middle of any century.