median
Origin of median
OTHER WORDS FROM median
me·di·an·ly, adverbpost·me·di·an, adjectivepre·me·di·an, noun, adjectivesub·me·di·an, adjectiveWords nearby median
Other definitions for median (2 of 2)
MEDIAN VS. MEAN VS. MODE VS. AVERAGE
What’s the difference between median, mean, mode, and average?
In the context of mathematics and statistics, the median is the middle number in a set of values when those values are arranged from smallest to largest. In contrast, the word mean refers to what’s informally called the average—the sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. The mode of a set of values is the most frequently repeated value in the set.
The word average is of course also very commonly used in more general ways. In math, though, it’s helpful to use more specific terms when determining the most representative or common value in a set of numbers.
To illustrate the difference, let’s look at an example set of seven values: 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9.
To get the mean of this set, you’d add up all the values (2+3+3+4+6+8+9=35) and then divide that total by the number of values (7), resulting in a mean of 5. This is what most people are referring to when they refer to the average of some set of numbers.
To find the median, you have to find the one that’s sequentially in the middle. In a set of seven numbers arranged in increasing value, the median is the fourth number (since there are three before and three after). In this set (2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9), the median is 4. When a set has an even number of values, the median is the mean of the two middle values.
The mode is simply the value that shows up the most. In the example set, the mode is 3, since it occurs twice and all the other values occur only once.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between median, mean, mode, and average.
Quiz yourself on median vs. mean vs. mode vs. average!
Should median, mean, mode, or average be used in the following sentence?
The most frequently repeated test score is 80, so it’s the _____ of the set.
How to use median in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for median
Derived forms of median
medianly, adverbWord Origin for median
Scientific definitions for median
- The middle number, when such a sequence has an odd number of values. For example, in the sequence 3, 4, 14, 35, 280, the median is 14.
- The average of the two middle numbers, when such a sequence has an even number of values. For example, in the sequence 4, 8, 10, 56, the median is 9 (the average of 8 and 10). Compare arithmetic mean average mode.
Cultural definitions for median (1 of 2)
The point in a series at which half of the values or units of the series are higher and half lower.
Cultural definitions for median (2 of 2)
In statistics, the middle value of a set of numbers or data points; half the figures will fall below the median and half above. (See average; compare mean and mode.)