mediaval

Mediaval is not a recognized historical term. In most contexts, it is a misspelling or variant of medieval, referring to the period roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century in European history. The correct adjective is medieval, derived from Old French medieval and Latin medium aevum, meaning "the middle ages." The form mediaval appears occasionally in contemporary writing, branding, or fan fiction, often by error or as a stylistic choice to evoke a medieval atmosphere without following standard spelling.

In linguistic use, mediaval lacks a defined scholarly sense or formal usage in history or archaeology. When encountered, it is advisable to treat it as nonstandard and to interpret the intended meaning from context. Some writers might employ mediaval to create a sense of immediacy or to distinguish a fictional world’s governance or calendar from actual history, but such uses are not widely recognized.

For audiences seeking historical accuracy, sources should rely on medieval or Middle Ages to denote the period. In fiction and media, mediaval may surface in titles, game settings, or alternate-history works, where authors take creative liberties with spelling or world-building conventions.

See also: medieval, Middle Ages, feudalism, Renaissance, historiography.