mediocre

[ mee-dee-oh-ker ]

adjective

1. of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate:

   The car gets only mediocre mileage, but it's fun to drive.

   Synonyms: run-of-the-mill, everyday, pedestrian, commonplace, undistinguished

   Antonyms: incomparable, uncommon, superior, extraordinary

2. not satisfactory; poor; inferior:

   Mediocre construction makes that building dangerous.

   Synonyms: so-so, second-rate, low-quality, meager

   Antonyms: superior, excellent

mediocre

/ ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə; ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə /

adjective

1. derogatory.
   average or ordinary in quality

   a mediocre book

Other Word Forms

• subme·di·ocre adjective
• super·medi·ocre adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediocre¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French, from Latin mediocris “in a middle state,” literally, “at middle height,” equivalent to medi(us) “center, middle” + Old Latin ocris “rugged mountain,” cognate with Greek ókris, akin to ákros “apex”; compare Umbrian ocar “hill, citadel”; mid ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediocre¹

C16: via French from Latin mediocris moderate, literally: halfway up the mountain, from medius middle + ocris stony mountain

Example Sentences

Is there a chance that a team so recently dubbed, “invincible” and “unbeatable” is actually more like “maddening” and “mediocre?”

From Los Angeles Times

What comes next, according to Atwood’s vision, is a totalitarian society led by mediocre white men who believe themselves to be enacting God’s will.

From Salon

What this scandal shows is that the practice of hiring unqualified and mediocre white people — and calling it making America great — can, and has, compromised national security.

From Salon

“Grant is fine. He’s not the best Bachelor or the worst. This show has cast and made hay out of a lot of mediocre white men over the years.”

From Los Angeles Times

I remembered that evening the year before, when Greg had taken me to a mediocre Italian restaurant, then into his bed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• decent
• dull
• inferior
• middling
• ordinary
• second-rate
• so-so
• undistinguished
• uninspired