mediocre
adjectivenounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə//
- United States//ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ//
Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.
adjective
- 1
Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.
I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.
The standard ranges from runs that are almost sensational in the speed and brilliance of the work to the ultra-mediocre.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
Etymology
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.
noun
- 1
A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.
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.
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
historicalA member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers.
Forms
- plural
- mediocres
- comparative
- more mediocre
- superlative
- most mediocre
mediocre · Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.
meditate · To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon something; to…meditation · A devotional exercise of, or leading to, contemplation.Mediterranean · Of or pertaining to the Mediterranean Sea and its surrounding…