median: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Neutral, with specific technical uses.
Quick answer
What does “median” mean?
The middle point in a set of values.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The middle point in a set of values; the value separating the higher half from the lower half.
Something situated in the middle, acting as a dividing line or point. Also refers to a specific type of average in statistics, a strip of land dividing lanes of traffic, or a geometric line from a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side of a triangle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily in road terminology. UK: 'central reservation'. US: 'median' or 'median strip'. In mathematics/statistics, usage is identical.
Connotations
In statistics, 'median' is seen as more robust against outliers than the 'mean'.
Frequency
The word 'median' is more frequent in American English due to its everyday road usage. In UK English, the statistical use is primary in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “median” in a Sentence
The median of [set/group]A median [noun] (e.g., income, age)Situated at the medianVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “median” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use for 'median'.]
American English
- [No standard verb use for 'median'.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb use for 'median'.]
American English
- [No standard adverb use for 'median'.]
adjective
British English
- The median voter is often the target of political campaigns.
- We need to find the median point on the scale.
American English
- The median household income rose slightly.
- The car was stuck in the median lane during the accident.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The median salary for the position gives a better picture than the average, which is skewed by a few high earners."
Academic
"The study reported the median and interquartile range for the non-normally distributed data."
Everyday
"Be careful when crossing the median to make a U-turn." (US) / "The car crashed through the central reservation." (UK)
Technical
"Draw the three medians of the triangle; they intersect at the centroid."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “median”
- Confusing 'median' with 'mean' or 'average'. Using 'median' to describe a typical or usual thing rather than the specific middle value in an ordered set.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'mean' is the sum of all values divided by the count. The 'median' is the middle value when all are sorted. The median is less affected by very high or very low numbers.
Yes, notably for roads. Americans say 'median' or 'median strip'. Brits say 'central reservation'. The mathematical term is the same.
Yes. Noun: 'Find the median of these numbers.' Adjective: 'The median income is £35,000.'
Arrange the numbers in order from smallest to largest. The one in the exact middle is the median. If there are two middle numbers, the median is their average.
The middle point in a set of values.
Median is usually formal/neutral, with specific technical uses. in register.
Median: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːdɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmidiən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'median'. Often used in set phrases like 'median voter theory'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the MEDIAN strip in the MIDdle of the road, or the MEDIAN value in the MIDdle of a sorted list.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIDDLE IS THE BALANCE POINT (resistant to extremes).
Practice
Quiz
In a dataset {2, 7, 3, 12, 5}, what is the median?