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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Mediocrity

/miː.dɪˈɒk.ɹɪ.ti/ · noun

Meaning

(uncountable) The condition of being mediocre; having only an average degree of quality, skills etc.; no better than standard..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (uncountable) The condition of being mediocre; having only an average degree of quality, skills etc.; no better than standard.
  2. (countable) A person with mediocre abilities or achievements.
  3. (archaic) The quality of being intermediate between two extremes; a mean.
  4. (obsolete) A middle course of action; moderation, balance.

Example Sentences

Flexibility is good, but a tolerance for mediocrity carried far enough impairs operational capacity.
England captain Harry Kane lifted the mediocrity of an attritional first half on a slow surface when he scored his 33rd goal for his country, a superbly guided diving header from Luke Shaw's cross seven minutes before the interval.
populated with mediocrities
surrounded by mediocrities
Sundrie other Gent[lemen] reſt beholden to this hundred, for their dvvellings, vvho, in an enuiable mediocritie of fortune, do happilie poſſeſſe themſelues, and communicate their ſufficient means to the ſeruice of their prince, the good of their neighbours, and the bettering of their ovvn eſtate: […]
In adversity I wish for prosperity, and in prosperity I am afraid of adversity. What mediocrity may be found?

Synonyms for mediocrity

Antonyms for mediocrity

Related Words

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does mediocrity mean?

Mediocrity means (uncountable) The condition of being mediocre; having only an average degree of quality, skills etc.; no better than standard..

What is a synonym for mediocrity?

Common synonyms include middlingness, second-rater, averageness.

What is the opposite of mediocrity?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use mediocrity in a sentence?

Flexibility is good, but a tolerance for mediocrity carried far enough impairs operational capacity.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.