In this study we report the deformation microstructures and strength of medium entropy alloys (MEAs) and high entropy alloys (HEAs), which are defined as alloys composed of four or less, and five or more principal elements, respectively, with (near-) equi-atomic concentrations. The friction stress (fundamental resistance to dislocation motion in the crystal lattice) and Hall-Petch relationship of various MEAs (CoCrFeNi, CoCrNi, etc.), taken as subsystems of the equi-atomic CoCrFeMnNi HEA, were precisely measured at room temperature. Experimental values of the friction stresses were found to fit with a theoretical model proposed by Toda-Caraballo et al. very well, which indicates that the strength of the alloys is closely related to a heterogeneously distorted crystal lattice. At the same time, values of the average lattice distortion in the alloys were found to be comparable to those in some dilute alloys, contradicting the belief that "severe" lattice distortion is a reason for the higher strength than in dilute systems. Finally, a strengthening mechanism due to element-element interactions was proposed as an additional mechanism in FCC HEAs and MEAs.