What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mosaic
Example
The church had a beautiful mosaic on the wall depicting a biblical scene. [mosaic: noun]
Example
The artist spent months creating a mosaic of a peacock using tiny pieces of glass. [mosaic: adjective]
medley
Example
The band played a medley of popular songs from the 80s. [medley: noun]
Example
The chef created a medley of vegetables for the stir-fry dish. [medley: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Medley is more commonly used than mosaic in everyday language. Medley is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mosaic is less common and refers specifically to a visual art form.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mosaic and medley?
While mosaic is typically associated with a more formal or traditional style, medley can be used in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be more versatile in terms of formality.