mediocre

[mee-dee-oh-ker]

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

mediocre

/ ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə, ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə /

adjective

1. derogatory,  average or ordinary in quality

   a mediocre book

Other Word Forms

• submediocre adjective
• supermediocre adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediocre¹

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”; mid ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediocre¹

C16: via French from Latin mediocris moderate, literally: halfway up the mountain, from medius middle + ocris stony mountain

Example Sentences

These dangers are particularly obvious to academics and other intellectual elites: They include fascism, nativism, anti-intellectualism, persecution of unpopular minorities, exaltation of the mediocre, and romantic exaggeration of the wisdom and virtue of the masses.

From Salon

A few candidates reported mediocre fundraising numbers, but have personal wealth they can draw on.

From Los Angeles Times

In the slang, “mid” means disappointingly mediocre, forgettable, uninspiring.

From Los Angeles Times

In the past 16 years, the program has dissolved into the equivalent of a mediocre wannabe that no longer competes with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Clemson.

From Los Angeles Times

Fold that talent into any decent parody of mediocre psychological thrillers, and ideally all we’d have to do is sit back and watch everyone alchemize TV movie tin into gold medal foolishness.

From Salon

Related Words

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