Definition of "midlist" [midlist]

• The portion of a publisher's list of new or current titles made up of books expected to have less popular appeal than the frontlist. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "And the point is: everyone does say the midlist is dying."
• "For that reason, presumably, and not just because she's black, one of the most accessibly challenging contemporary authors I've encountered will remain midlist at best."
• "Exceptions abound -- bestsellers, titles where publishers paid for placement, &c. -- but the jump to back - or midlist is now a six week cycle."