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

• submediocre adjective
• supermediocre 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

It’s that mediocre executives, or worse, are rewarded for failure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on Literature

It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.

Read more on BBC

It’s understandable that grads might feel indignant about employer demands after having earned stellar GPAs for little effort and mediocre work.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And the job market is either terrible or mediocre, depending on which dataset you believe.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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