English Dictionary
Definition of “mediocre”
mediocre (ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə
;ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə)
Definitions
adjective
- often derogatory average or ordinary in quality ⇒
a mediocre book
Word Origin
C16: via French from Latin mediocris moderate, literally: halfway up the mountain, from medius middle + ocris stony mountain
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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second-rate,
average,
ordinary,
indifferent,
middling,
pedestrian,
inferior,
commonplace,
vanilla,
insignificant,
so-so,
banal,
tolerable,
run-of-the-mill,
passable,
undistinguished,
uninspired,
bog-standard,
no great shakes,
half-pie,
fair to middling,
meh,
Quotations
"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major it had been all three"
Joseph Heller
Usage examples
Trevor felt like a poker player pressing on with a mediocre hand because he'd got so far there was no way back.
Richard Francis, PROSPECT HILL (2003)An emotional pull can inspire excellence even from otherwise mediocre performers.
Business Today (2003)A trade that precipitated a complete reversal of his franchise's previously mediocre fortunes.
Globe and Mail (2003)For many of the mediocre talents thrashing around in the TV pool, he suggests, making quality programmes comes second to staying afloat.
Sun, News of the World (2000)It's better to have half a quality tablet than the full dose of a mediocre one.
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung, PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycystic ovary syndrome (2002)
