on the average

Idioms  

1. As a rule, usually, as in On the average, about 15 percent of the freshmen class will drop out before graduation. This expression uses average in the sense of “a norm or standard.” [First half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the average

A quarter-point hike would add about $1.38 a month in interest on the average $6,600 card balance, said Charlie Wise, head of global research at TransUnion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The Ten Towns new tariff will be effective from 1 October and equates to an extra £7 per month on the average bill for customers.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

The measure is a saving of about £45 a year on the average household bill, the government said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Your Social Security benefit is calculated based on the average of your 35 highest-earning working years.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

In reality, that’s not true: on the average across all industries, America’s industrial productivity is higher than that in either Japan or Germany.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond