What Is the Plural of Medium?

The word medium has two common plurals: media and mediums. The correct choice depends entirely on the meaning you intend. Media is the standard plural when referring to communication channels (news media, social media) or artistic materials (paint, clay). Mediums is the correct plural when referring to spiritual psychics or, less commonly, to specific sizes or intermediate states. Choosing the wrong form can confuse your reader, especially in professional or academic writing.

Quick Answer

If you are writing about news, advertising, or art, use media. If you are writing about people who communicate with spirits, use mediums.

Detailed Explanation

The confusion around the plural of medium comes from the word’s Latin origin. Medium is a Latin neuter noun, and its original Latin plural is media. English has kept this Latin plural for the most common meanings, while developing a regular English plural (mediums) for less common meanings. This split is not random; it follows how native speakers actually use the word.

When to Use “Media”

Media is the dominant plural in modern English. You will use it in almost every situation except when talking about psychics.

• Communication and news: “The media reported on the election.” Here, media refers to all news outlets collectively. In formal writing, media is often treated as a singular mass noun (“The media is biased”), but in careful academic or journalistic style, it remains plural (“The media are divided”).
• Social media platforms: “She manages several social media accounts.” This is the most common use in everyday conversation and business writing.
• Artistic materials: “Oil and watercolor are two different media.” This is standard in art criticism and studio practice.
• Data storage or transmission: “Digital media have replaced physical media.” This is common in technology writing.

In formal emails or reports, media is always the safe choice for these meanings. For example: “Please find attached our media kit for the upcoming campaign.”

When to Use “Mediums”

Mediums is the regular English plural. It is used in two specific contexts.

• Spiritual psychics: “Several mediums claimed to contact the deceased.” This is the most common use of mediums in modern English. If you are writing about spirituality, paranormal topics, or historical séances, use mediums.
• Intermediate sizes or states (rare): “The store sells small, medium, and large mediums.” This usage is uncommon and often sounds awkward. Most speakers would rephrase: “The store sells small, medium, and large sizes.” You will rarely need this meaning.

In informal conversation, if you say “She is one of the best mediums,” everyone will understand you mean a psychic. If you say “She works in several mediums,” people will think you mean artistic materials, not psychics. Context is everything.

Comparison Table: Media vs. Mediums

Natural Examples

Here are examples that show how native speakers use these words in real situations.

• Email (formal): “We are expanding our outreach to include digital media and print media.”
• Conversation (informal): “I saw it on social media this morning.”
• Art review (formal): “The artist experiments with mixed media, combining photography and paint.”
• Spiritual discussion (neutral): “Some mediums claim to receive messages from the other side.”
• Technology guide (formal): “Different storage media have different lifespans.”
• Customer service (informal): “We have small and large shirts, but we are out of mediums.”

Common Mistakes

Even experienced writers make errors with these plurals. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to avoid them.

• Mistake: Using “mediums” for news or social media.
  Wrong: “The mediums are reporting on the storm.”
  Right: “The media are reporting on the storm.”
• Mistake: Using “media” for spiritual psychics.
  Wrong: “She is one of the most famous media in the country.”
  Right: “She is one of the most famous mediums in the country.”
• Mistake: Treating “media” as always singular.
  Awkward: “The media is divided on this issue.” (Acceptable in casual speech)
  Better (formal): “The media are divided on this issue.”
• Mistake: Using “mediums” for artistic materials.
  Wrong: “She works in several different mediums.” (This is actually common in informal speech, but careful writers prefer “media”)
  Right (formal): “She works in several different media.”

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

Sometimes the best choice is to avoid the plural altogether and rephrase. This is especially true when the meaning is ambiguous.

• Instead of: “We use multiple media.”
  Try: “We use multiple channels.” (Clearer for communication)
• Instead of: “The mediums are expensive.”
  Try: “The art supplies are expensive.” (Avoids confusion with psychics)
• Instead of: “She is a medium.” (Ambiguous)
  Try: “She is a psychic medium.” (Adds clarity)
• Instead of: “We need more mediums.” (Very confusing)
  Try: “We need more sizes in the medium range.” (Explicit)

When writing an email, if you are unsure, use media for anything related to communication or art. Use mediums only when you are certain the context is spiritual. When in doubt, rephrase the sentence to avoid the plural entirely.

Mini Practice

Test your understanding with these four questions. Choose the correct plural form.

1. The news _____ are reporting on the summit. (media / mediums)
2. Several _____ claimed to have seen a ghost. (media / mediums)
3. Oil and watercolor are different _____. (media / mediums)
4. We are out of small and large, but we still have _____. (media / mediums)

Answers:

1. media
2. mediums
3. media
4. mediums (though “sizes” is better)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “media” singular or plural?

Strictly, media is the plural of medium. However, in everyday English, especially when referring to “the media” as an institution, it is often treated as singular (“The media is biased”). In formal academic or journalistic writing, it is still treated as plural (“The media are biased”). Both are acceptable, but be consistent.

Can I use “mediums” for art materials?

Yes, in informal conversation, many native speakers say “mediums” for art materials. For example: “I like to experiment with different mediums.” However, in formal writing, art criticism, or academic papers, media is preferred. If you are writing for a professional audience, use media.

What about “multimedia”?

Multimedia is a single word that refers to content using multiple forms of media (text, audio, video). It is always singular: “Multimedia is an important part of modern education.” Do not write “multimedias.”

Is there a difference between “social media” and “social mediums”?

Never use “social mediums.” The correct term is always social media. It is treated as a singular or plural mass noun: “Social media is changing communication” or “Social media are changing communication.” Both are used, but singular is more common in everyday speech.

For more help with similar word pairs, visit our Common Plural Forms section. If you have a specific question about a medical or technical plural, check our Singular or Plural Checks page. For general questions about this guide, see our FAQ or read our Editorial Policy.