mean time: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (high in technical fields, low in general conversation)Formal, Technical (Engineering, IT, Statistics)
Quick answer
What does “mean time” mean?
The average amount of time between two events, particularly the time between failures of a system or device.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The average amount of time between two events, particularly the time between failures of a system or device.
In everyday informal usage, sometimes used as a synonym for 'average time' in non-technical contexts. Also appears as part of the phrase 'in the meantime' (though typically hyphenated when used adverbially).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Both follow the same technical conventions.
Connotations
Technical, precise, quantitative. No regional emotional connotation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in relevant technical fields in both regions. Rarely used in general conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “mean time” in a Sentence
The mean time between [EVENT A] and [EVENT B] is...We observed a mean time of [NUMBER] [UNIT]to calculate the mean time to [EVENT]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mean time” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb. Use 'in the meantime'.]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb. Use 'in the meantime'.]
adjective
British English
- The mean-time calculation is crucial for the service contract.
American English
- We need the mean-time data for the reliability report.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports on equipment reliability, service level agreements (SLAs), and maintenance planning.
Academic
Common in engineering, computer science, and reliability statistics papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in this technical sense. May be confused with 'meantime'.
Technical
The primary context. A key metric in reliability engineering, systems analysis, and quality assurance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mean time”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mean time”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mean time”
- Writing it as one word ('meantime') when referring to the technical average.
- Using it in non-technical contexts where 'average time' or 'meantime' would be more natural.
- Pronouncing 'mean' as if it meant 'unkind' (/miːn/ with a tense vowel is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Mean time' (two words) is a technical term for an average duration. 'Meantime' (one word, or 'in the meantime') is an adverbial phrase meaning 'in the intervening period'.
It stands for 'Mean Time Between Failures', a specific and very common use of the term in engineering and IT.
It would sound very technical and odd. Use 'average time' for general contexts, or 'in the meantime' to refer to an intervening period.
It is pronounced exactly like the word 'mean' meaning 'average' (/miːn/), not like the adjective meaning 'unkind'.
The average amount of time between two events, particularly the time between failures of a system or device.
Mean time is usually formal, technical (engineering, it, statistics) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable as a technical compound]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MEAN' as in 'average' + 'TIME'. It's not about being nasty; it's the arithmetic middle of measured time periods.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME AS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (that can be averaged)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'mean time' most precisely and commonly used?