Words / C1

meed-ee-OHK-uh/ˌmiːdiˈəʊkə/

Mediocre means not very good — only average, with disappointment built in: a mediocre paper, mediocre cover. Average is the neutral twin; poor is worse; excellent sits opposite. Do not call a complete, quiet methods section mediocre because it is not flashy.

Meaning

Not very good; only average, in a disappointing way.

Examples

• “A mediocre methods paragraph will sink a glossy abstract.”
• “Average can be a statistic. Mediocre is a judgement. Adequate means good enough. Outstanding is the other end. A replicable write-up can look plain and still be strong.”

Good to know

Disappointingly average. Neutral: average. Worse: poor. Flash is not quality; a quiet, complete n is not mediocre.

Near in meaning

average

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