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Which phrase is commonly used to describe something mediocre?

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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

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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

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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

See Examples For:

mediocre

I always thought you were a bunch of mediocre individuals.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

Just a few years ago, the fastest rate of growth the economy was thought to be able to sustain each year was around 1.8%, a mediocre number historically.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

I never really found the movies particularly scary, as they’re anchored by a shaky premise, mediocre scripts, subpar acting and flat characters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

At around 35 million hectolitres the total harvest would be down two percent on a mediocre 2025 yield and 14 percent below the 2021–2025 average, according to estimates published Wednesday by the ministry of agriculture.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

I participated in sports and games as often as I could, but my performances were no more than mediocre.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

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

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