Is media singular or plural?: Usage Guide
The singular media and its plural medias seem to have originated in the field of advertising over 70 years ago; they are still so used without stigma in that specialized field. In most other applications media is used as a plural of medium. The popularity of the word in references to the agencies of mass communication is leading to the formation of a mass noun, construed as a singular.
Edwin Meese 3d
James Lewis, Guardian Weekly
This use is not as well established as the mass-noun use of data and is likely to incur criticism especially in writing.
media
3 of 3plural of medium
Examples of media in a Sentence
Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 24 May 2024
The Bachelorette star, 49, shared his thoughts on getting thrust back into the media spotlight in light of his May 12 Instagram post dedicated to wife Trista Sutter, alongside a black-and-white photo of his dog on Instagram.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024
These reports can take the form of a phone call, email or even a social media message.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2024
Risa Heller Communications clients have included companies like Activision Blizzard, Madison Square Garden, and Airbnb, media outlets like Puck and The Texas Tribune, and people like former CNN president Jeff Zucker, through his exit from the company to the launch of his new venture RedBird IMI.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2024
Of course, interest in the debate could drive media outlets and polling firms to ramp up their survey output as well.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 22 May 2024
In a social media post, the agency shared an image of Kilby receiving from Royal Navy Vice Adm. Martin Connell what is now considered a historic artifact, memorializing soldiers who died on board the U.S. Navy destroyer.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 22 May 2024
Jen, a media liaison for the protest group, said the group had set up tents but began to disperse after law enforcement moved in at the site.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
As far as coming-of-age tales go, Betches has an upbeat one in a digital media landscape without many.
—Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 11 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'media.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Media.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/media. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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