mediocrity

American  

[mee-dee-ok-ri-tee] / ˌmi diˈɒk rɪ ti /

noun

plural

mediocrities

1. the state or quality of being mediocre.

2. mediocre ability or accomplishment.

3. a mediocre person.

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mediocrity British  

/ ˌmɛd-, ˌmiːdɪˈɒkrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being mediocre

2. a mediocre person or thing

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Etymology

Origin of mediocrity

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English mediocrite, from Middle French mediocrite, from Latin mediocritāt-, stem of mediocritās “middle state, moderation”; equivalent to mediocre + -ity

Compare meaning

How does mediocrity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mediocracy vs. mediocrity

Example Sentences

But this section is where the album drifts into mediocrity, with a handful of meandering, mid-tempo love songs that don't really add much to the overall package.

From BBC

What really rankles Hedda, though, is that Lovborg and Thea have created something sublime while she has sought refuge with a scholastic mediocrity.

From Los Angeles Times

Salieri may be a mediocrity, destined to be a footnote in the short yet indelible life of Mozart.

From Los Angeles Times

But by the time Curt Cignetti arrived, the Crimson Hawks had slipped into mediocrity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ceiling is too low to differentiate between excellence and mediocrity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• normality