mediocre

American  

[mee-dee-oh-ker] / ˌmi diˈoʊ kər /

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

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mediocre British  

/ ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə, ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə /

adjective

1. derogatory average or ordinary in quality

   a mediocre book

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Other Word Forms

• submediocre adjective
• supermediocre adjective

Etymology

Origin of mediocre

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”; see origin at mid ¹

Explanation

Mediocre is an adjective that means "merely adequate" or "of only ordinary quality." A "C" is a mediocre grade for students who are fair to middling. The roots of the adjective mediocre are from the Latin medial, "middle," and ocris, "mountain." If you think about it, the middle of a mountain is neither up nor down and neither here nor there — just somewhere in between. The definition of mediocre is "of ordinary quality," "merely adequate," and "average." Another word that shares the same root is mediocracy, which means "government run by mediocre people" — an all-too-common condition.

Example Sentences

Franchises that demand public money for stadiums think nothing of turning around and soaking the same public for mediocre seats, hot dogs and beer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Whatever class of film I believed I’d be getting after watching other mediocre Tubi Originals in the past, I was so very wrong about.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Even after a pair of mediocre seasons, the Rangers remained aggressive this winter, making a pair of blockbuster trades, acquiring frontline starter MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals and outfielder Brandon Nimmo from the Mets.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

You will pay a long-term price with such stocks, however, according to the research, since they will tend to be mediocre performers when liquidity returns to the market.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

But now, thanks to this idiot tutor and a book of mediocre poetry, he knew exactly where to look.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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