mediocre

• mediocer (obsolete)
• médiocre (dated)

From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”), from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”); compare mediocrely and mediocrity.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/, /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

mediocre (comparative more mediocre, superlative most mediocre)

1. Having no peculiar or outstanding features; not extraordinary, special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality.

   I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.

   • 1968, William Arthur Ward, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist‎, Droke House:

     The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

• common
• commonplace
• ordinary

• great
• distinguished
• exceptional
• outstanding
• remarkable
• peculiar
• excellent

• mean
• medium
• mediate
• mediation
• mediator
• median
• mediocrely
• mediocrity

mediocre (plural mediocres)

1. A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.
   • 1825, “Present State of Literature”, in The Gentleman's Magazine‎, volume XCV, page 197:

     Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable.

   • 2014, Todd Whitaker, Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition (page 84)

     After this lecture, how do the mediocres feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not.

2. (historical) A member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers.

• (person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim): great

• mediocre in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• mediocre in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• mediocer

mediocre (masculine and feminine plural mediocres)

1. mediocre

• mediocrement

• mediocritat

• “mediocre” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

mediocre (masculine and feminine plural mediocri)

1. mediocre, ordinary, middling
2. second-rate, poor, shoddy

• (mediocre): comune, ordinario
• (second-rate): scadente, scarso

mediocre m or f (plural mediocri)

1. mediocre person; mediocrity

• medio
• mediocremente
• mediocrità

• decimerò

mediocre

1. nominative neuter singular of mediocris
2. accusative neuter singular of mediocris

mediocre m or f (plural mediocres, comparable)

1. Obsolete spelling of medíocre

mediocre (plural mediocres)

1. mediocre

• mediocridad

• “mediocre” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.