Mediocrity
ˌmiːdiˈɒkrɪti
Definitions
The state or quality of being mediocre; ordinariness.
ˌmiːdiˈɒkrɪti
The quality or state of being mediocre; a lack of excellence.
The movie was an example of sheer mediocrity, failing to impress.
💡 Simply: Imagine you try to make a cake, but it's just 'meh.' It’s not terrible, but it's not super delicious either. That's like mediocrity! It's when something is average or not very good.
👶 For kids: When something is just okay, not great or terrible.
More Examples
She was frustrated by the mediocrity of the work and demanded better results.
The team's performance was marked by mediocrity; they neither excelled nor failed dramatically.
How It's Used
"The film was criticized for its mediocrity, with reviewers finding it neither particularly good nor bad."
"The school strives to move students beyond mediocrity and encourage them to reach their full potential."
"The company's focus on cost-cutting led to mediocrity in product quality and customer service."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
settle for mediocrity
To accept or be satisfied with something that is not of high quality or standard.
"Don't settle for mediocrity; strive for excellence in all that you do."
a life of mediocrity
A life that is unexceptional or unremarkable.
"He feared living a life of mediocrity and sought adventure and success."
From Latin *mediocritas* (meaning "moderation, the middle state"), derived from *mediocris* ("of moderate size, ordinary"), from *medius* ("middle").
The word 'mediocrity' has been used since the 16th century, initially referring to the state of being moderate. Over time, it evolved to specifically denote a lack of distinction or excellence.
Memory tip
Think of a 'medium' sized, 'okay' performance – that's mediocrity.
Word Origin
"moderation, the middle state"