median
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for median, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The middle value in a set of numbers arranged from smallest to largest.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use median
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin mediānus, "of the middle," from medius ("middle").
Full origin of median →Frequently asked questions
What does “median” mean?
The word “median” means the middle value in a set of numbers arranged from smallest to largest. In plain terms, in statistics, the middle number in an ordered list; in traffic, the strip dividing a road.
How do you pronounce “median”?
“Median” is pronounced MEE-deern (/ˈmi.di.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “median” in a sentence?
Here is “median” used in a sentence: “The median salary at the company was lower than the average because a few executives earned huge sums.”
What part of speech is “median”?
Depending on how it is used, “median” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “median” come from?
The word “median” comes from Latin. From Latin mediānus, "of the middle," from medius ("middle").
Is “median” a common word?
“Median” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “median” have?
“Median” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the middle value in a set of numbers arranged from smallest to largest.
What is the difference between the median and the mean?
The mean is calculated by adding all the values and dividing by how many there are; the median is the middle value once the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest. The median resists distortion by extreme values — one billionaire in a room hugely raises the mean income but barely moves the median — which is why incomes and house prices are usually reported as medians.
How do you find the median with an even number of values?
Arrange the values in order; with an even count there are two middle numbers, and the median is halfway between them — add them and divide by two. For example, the median of 3, 5, 8, and 10 is (5 + 8) ÷ 2 = 6.5. With an odd count, the median is simply the single middle value.
What is the difference between the median and the mode?
The median is the middle value of an ordered list, while the mode is the value that appears most often. In the set 2, 3, 3, 9, 14, the median is 3 and the mode happens to be 3 as well, but the two often differ. Every numerical data set has a median, yet it may have no mode or several.
Is the strip in the middle of a road called a median everywhere?
No. "Median" or "median strip" is the usual term in American and Australian English for the land separating opposite lanes of traffic, while British English calls it the "central reservation." Whatever the name, the feature is the same: a divider keeping opposing traffic apart.