Dictionary

mediocre en · ADJ

Pronunciation

/ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/ (UK)
(US) audio
/ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/ (US)
/ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/ (UK)

Etymology

From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity.

Meanings

Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.
- The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. 1968, William Arthur Ward, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist, Droke House:
- I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.
- “Look at this festive assembly. All of us, gathered here together, chuckling at jokes and silliness.” [laughter] “And jackanapery.” [rim shots] “I guess there's only one thing left to say. What is this shit?” [rim shot] [laughter] “[laughs] Very good.” “You call yourselves vampires? Bah. This entire evening has been nothing but a pageant of insipid nonsense.” “[laughing] Yes.” “Worshipping at the altar of your own mediocre frivolity. A jester's hollow dance. And who is laughing?” “Yeah! [whoops] [grunts]” “Vampires are supposed to have blood orgies and slaughter circles. Gah! You have all gone soft. You even invited humans to this asinine affair.” 2023 August 24, Sarah Naftalis & Lauren Wells, “The Roast” (8:36 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 5, episode 8, spoken by Baron Afanas (Doug Jones):
- The standard ranges from runs that are almost sensational in the speed and brilliance of the work to the ultra-mediocre. 1959 June 14, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 409:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
more mediocre	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
médiocre		alternative, dated	lexicographic
mediocer		alternative, obsolete	lexicographic
most mediocre	Degree=Sup		lexicographic

Translations (75)

bg посре́дствен (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pt meia-boca (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi बीच की रास (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · az miyanə (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pl niespecjalny (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · sv medelmåttig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ko 평범하다 (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ru сре́дний (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · tr vasat (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · az ortabab (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · cmn 平平 (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi बैन-बैन (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · nb middelmådig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi मध्यम (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ar مُتَوَسِّط (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · az babat (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi दरमियाना (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · cmn 平凡 (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · uk сере́дній (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · nl middelmatig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · sh osrednji (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · sk priemerný (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi मोतदिल (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hu középszerű (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi दरमियानी (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hu közepes (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · mk про́сечен (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · la mediocris (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi औसत दर्जे का (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fi kohtalainen (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ro mediocru (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · tr sıradan (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi मुतवस्सित (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi बीच का (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · el μέτριος (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ru нева́жный (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fa کممایه (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · gl nin arre nin xo (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · az adi (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · gl mediocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ca mediocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · tl madampat (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi औसत (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ja 平凡な (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · sk prostredný (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ru зауря́дный (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ru посре́дственный (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fr médiocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · it mediocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · hi माध्यमिक (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · eo averaĝa (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · el παρακατιανός (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · ja 凡庸な (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · de mittelmäßig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pl średni (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · cs průměrný (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · uk посере́дній (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pl mierny (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · nn middelmåtig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · eo mezbona (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · es mediocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · da middelmådig (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fi hääppöinen (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fi keskiverto (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pt medíocre (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · uk аби́який (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · cmn 平庸 (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · cmn 庸碌 (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · eo mezklalita (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · sh осредњи (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · be пасрэ́дны (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · mk сре́ден (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · pl przeciętny (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · fi keskinkertainen (having no peculiar or outstanding features) · be сярэ́дні (having no peculiar or outstanding features)

mediocre en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/ (UK)
(US) audio
/ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/ (US)
/ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/ (UK)

Etymology

Meanings

A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.
- Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable. 1825, “Present State of Literature”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, volume XCV, second part, page 197:
- After this lecture, how do the mediocres feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not. 2014, Todd Whitaker, Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition, page 84:
(historical) A member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
mediocres	Number=Plur		lexicographic
mediocer		alternative, obsolete	lexicographic
médiocre		alternative, dated	lexicographic

Antonyms

great

Translations (6)

fr médiocre (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim) · ja 庸人 (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim) · de Mittelmäßige (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim) · cmn 庸人 (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim) · ja 凡人 (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim) · el μετριότητα (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim)

mediocre en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

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Translations (75)

mediocre en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Translations (6)