mediocrity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, critical
Quick answer
What does “mediocrity” mean?
The quality or state of being average, ordinary, or not very good.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being average, ordinary, or not very good.
A person or thing that is mediocre; the state of being neither good nor bad, often implying a failure to reach a desired standard of excellence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Consistently negative in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written, critical discourse than in casual speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “mediocrity” in a Sentence
the mediocrity of [noun phrase]a [descriptor] mediocritycondemn/accept/tolerate mediocrityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mediocrity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team seems content to **mediocratise** their ambitions. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The program has been **mediocritized** by endless committee reviews. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The project was **mediocrily** executed. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- He performed **mediocrely** in the debates. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He has a **mediocre** record on environmental issues.
American English
- The performance was, at best, **mediocre**.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to criticise underperforming products, services, or employees, e.g., 'We cannot afford mediocrity in our customer service.'
Academic
Used in critical analysis to describe work, ideas, or periods seen as lacking originality or rigour.
Everyday
Used to express disappointment with the ordinary quality of something, e.g., food, films, or achievements.
Technical
Not a technical term; used in its standard evaluative sense across fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mediocrity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mediocrity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mediocrity”
- Misspelling as 'mediocracy' (which is a different word meaning 'rule by the mediocre').
- Using it as a positive or neutral term (e.g., 'I'm happy with this mediocrity' is contradictory).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It is inherently a criticism, implying something is not good enough. Calling something 'a happy mediocrity' is still an acknowledgement of its limitations.
'Average' is a neutral statistical term. 'Mediocrity' is a negative judgement applied to something considered average when a higher standard was expected or possible.
No, the standard term for a person is 'a mediocrity'. 'Mediocrat' is very rare and non-standard.
Yes. It can describe the quality of anything (e.g., 'the mediocrity of the design') or refer to a person who embodies that quality ('he was a mediocrity').
The quality or state of being average, ordinary, or not very good.
Mediocrity is usually formal, critical in register.
Mediocrity: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmiːdiˈɒkrəti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmiːdiˈɑːkrəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the bland leading the bland (reference to mediocrity in leadership)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MEDIocre + cITY: a city of average, unremarkable buildings and people.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS HEIGHT / MEDIOCRITY IS THE MIDDLE (e.g., 'rise above mediocrity', 'sink into mediocrity').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mediocrity' LEAST likely to be used?