1
: combining characteristics of more than one kind
specifically : combining features of two or more systems of government
a mixed constitution
2
: made up of or involving individuals or items of more than one kind: such as
a
: made up of or involving persons differing in race (see race entry 1 sense 1a), national origin, religion, or class
a mixed audience
a mixed family/household
b
: made up of or involving individuals of more than one sex
mixed company
3
: including or accompanied by inconsistent, incompatible, or contrary elements
mixed emotions
received mixed reviews
a mixed blessing
4
a
: deriving from two or more races (see race entry 1 sense 1a)
people of mixed race
her mixed ancestry
b
: deriving from two or more breeds
a stallion of mixed blood

Examples of mixed in a Sentence

a can of mixed nuts We ate salads of mixed greens. They live in a mixed neighborhood. She's of mixed African and European ancestry. people of mixed racial origin His decision got a mixed reaction from the family. The experiment got mixed results.
Recent Examples on the Web Wall Street earnings last year were mixed, and merger and acquisition activity was underwhelming. Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 Social media reaction is mixed, albeit with a decided tilt toward outrage. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Chinese data for January-February were mixed, with property investment falling while other indicators showed improvement. Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 In Israel, reaction to the U.S. military’s new role in Gaza has been mixed. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Results for the southern bur oak, while more mixed, were also generally better than the northern bur oak. Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 Dartmouth men’s basketball team is planning to form the first college sports labor union, but public reaction is mixed. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Studies are mixed, but some show a strong link between higher choline intakes and fewer NTDs; other studies are less conclusive.1314 Supporting a healthy placenta. Casey Seiden, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Despite the mixed reviews and its 42 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, One Love became a hit, grossing close to $150 million at the global box office as of Thursday. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mixed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mixte

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mixed was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mixed

Cite this Entry

“Mixed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mixed. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mixed

adjective
1
a
: made of mingled or blended elements
mixed nuts
b
: combining features of more than one kind
a mixed economy
2
a
: involving persons differing in race, national origin, or religion
a mixed marriage
b
: made up of or involving individuals of both sexes
mixed company
a mixed chorus
3
: including or accompanied by different or opposing elements
a mixed blessing
a mixed reaction
4
: resulting from the crossing or breeding of individuals of different races or breeds
a stallion of mixed blood

Medical Definition

mixed

adjective
1
: combining features or exhibiting symptoms of more than one condition or disease
a mixed tumor
2
: producing more than one kind of secretion
mixed salivary glands

More from Merriam-Webster on mixed

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