Average — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈa-v(ə-)rij/ av·er·age

Meaning & Definition of Average

Average (noun)

  1. a single value (such as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values
  2. mean
  3. an estimation of or approximation to an arithmetic mean

Average (adjective)

  1. equaling an arithmetic mean
  2. being about midway between extremes
  3. not out of the ordinary, common

Average (verb)

  1. to be or come to an average
  2. to have a medial value of
  3. to buy on a falling market or sell on a rising market additional shares or commodities so as to obtain a more favorable average price —usually used with down or up

Average (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being about midway between extremes of amount or size

    "since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions"

    similar: intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest
    related: reasonable, common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, passable, tolerable
    near: excessive, extreme, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private

  2. being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events

    "just an average day at the office"

    similar: common, commonplace, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday, par for the course
    related: regular, typical, unextraordinary, familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, popular, vulgar, natural, customary, wonted, insignificant, trivial, unimportant, frequent, habitual, expected, predictable
    opposite: abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual
    near: curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer, aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical, rare, recherché, scarce, fantastic, phenomenal, bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky, way-out, weird, wild, eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky, nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox, freak, freakish, conspicuous, notable, novel, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented, singular, unique, unparalleled

  3. having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind

    "the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them"

    similar: archetypal, characteristic, normal, regular, representative, standard, true, typical
    related: common, commonplace, conventional, customary, everyday, ordinary, usual, wonted, workaday, classic, textbook, vintage, expected, familiar, habitual, predictable, routine, unexceptional, unremarkable, predominant, preponderant
    opposite: aberrant, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, deviant, irregular, nonrepresentative, nontypical, untypical
    near: uncommon, unconventional, uncustomary, unusual, unwonted, distinctive, especial, exceptional, extraordinary, infrequent, noteworthy, rare, remarkable, singular, special, unexpected, unfamiliar, unique, unpredictable, eccentric, idiosyncratic, nonconformist, peculiar, unknown, unorthodox, curious, erratic, funky, funny, odd, oddball, offbeat, outlandish, quirky, screwy, strange, wacky, way-out, bizarre, fantastic, far-out, freak, freakish, kooky, out-of-the-way, outrageous, outré, unnatural, weird, wild

Average (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. what is typical of a group, class, or series

    "my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater"

    similar: norm, normal, par, standard
    related: golden mean, mean, median, middle, commonplace, ordinary, rule, run, status quo, usual, exemplar, representative
    near: abnormality, anomaly, deviation, exception, rarity

Average (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in reach, measure

    similar: equal, measure, reach, add up (to), aggregate, amount (to), come (to), count (up to), number, sum (to or into), total, compose, comprise, constitute, make up

  2. as in even, equalize

    similar: equalize, even, codify, marshal, methodize, order, organize, systematize, systemize, square, formalize, homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize, accredit, certify, control, govern, regulate, rule, conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, integrate, reconcile, synthesize
    opposite: customize, individualize, tailor

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Average

The most common words with a similar meaning to Average:

intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday, archetypal, characteristic, regular, representative, true, typical, par for the course, norm, par, equal, measure, reach, add up (to), aggregate, amount (to)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Average

Words with the opposite meaning of Average:

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual, aberrant, anomalous, atypical, deviant, irregular, nonrepresentative, nontypical, untypical, customize, individualize, tailor

Related Words for Average

reasonable, conventional, popular, adequate, passable, tolerable, unextraordinary, familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, vulgar, natural, customary, wonted, insignificant, trivial, unimportant, frequent, habitual, expected, predictable, classic, textbook, vintage, predominant, preponderant, golden mean, run, status quo

Near Antonyms of Average

excessive, extreme, rare, uncommon, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private, curious, funny, quaint, queer, recherché, scarce, fantastic, phenomenal, bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky, way-out, weird, wild, eccentric, kooky

Word Forms of Average

Inflections: averaged, averaging

Derived words: averagely (adverb), averageness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Average

from earlier average proportionally distributed charge for damage at sea, modification of Middle French avarie damage to ship or cargo, from Old Italian avaria, from Arabic ʽawārīya damaged merchandise

First known use: 1770

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Average

Words & Phrases Containing Average

average out, average out to, batting average, Dow Jones average, earned run average, grade point average, on average

Frequently Asked Questions about Average

What does "Average" mean?

"Average" means a single value (such as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a single value (such as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Average"?

Other words for "Average" include intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize and moderate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Average" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Average"?

There are 108 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Average". Common alternatives include intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest and common.

What is the opposite of "Average"?

Antonyms of "Average" include abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual and aberrant. Near antonyms include excessive, extreme, rare and uncommon.

How do you use "Average" in a sentence?

Examples of "Average" in a sentence: "since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions"; "just an average day at the office"; "the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them".

Is "Average" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Average" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Average" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Average" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Average"?

"Average" is pronounced /ˈa-v(ə-)rij/ and divided into syllables as av·er·age.