中型坦克是战车分级的一种概称，该名词主要用于第二次世界大战；顾名思义，本量级车种是在重型战车（设计配置以火力、装甲主导）与轻战车（设计思维以机动力、侦查运用为导向）之间的妥协性设计为重点，同时具有大规模量产的潜能。在第二次世界大战期间，最成功的战车也是落于本量级，包括苏联的T-34战车、美国的M4雪曼、纳粹德国的四号坦克；这些战车的重量介于20至40公吨、主炮口径以45-85公厘皆具。

在主力战车名词于1960年代出现之前，M48巴顿、T-54/55系列主战坦克这类在1950年代诞生，总重量超过50吨级的产物也一度被归类在中战车属性之下；该名词的运用界定上并未非常谨慎，因此在冷战初期的战车会同时归类在中战车与主力战车的状况。

Medium tank is a classification of tanks, particularly prevalent during World War II which represented a compromise between the mobility oriented light tanks and the protection and firepower oriented heavy tanks. The most widely produced, cost effective and successful tanks of World War II (the Soviet T-34, the American Sherman tank and the German Panzer IV) were all medium tank designs, and the success of the concept would later lead to the development of later generations of medium tanks such as the Chieftain. Many of the medium tanks lines became what are called main battle tank in most countries.