noun
Common
median
MEE-deern
Median (noun) means the middle value in a set of numbers arranged from smallest to largest. Example: “The median of the numbers three, seven and nine is seven.”
noun
1
The middle value in a set of numbers arranged from smallest to largest.
"The median of the numbers three, seven and nine is seven."
"The median salary at the company was lower than the average because a few executives earned huge sums."
"To find the median of five test scores, line them up in order and pick the one in the middle."
2
The strip of land separating opposite lanes of traffic on a road.
"The council planted flowers along the median to make the busy road look nicer."
"Pedestrians waited on the median before crossing the second half of the road."
"The car spun out and crossed into the median."
adj
1
Relating to or forming a middle point or value.
"The median price of a house in this area has gone up again."
"Is the median score in the class higher than the average?"
"The median age of the town's residents has been rising for years."
How to use median
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn statistics, the middle number in an ordered list; in traffic, the strip dividing a road.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "mean" (average) — the median ignores extreme values, which is why it's used for things like income where a few very high earners would skew an average.
Common pairings
median income
median value
road median
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Word forms
- Plural
- medians
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the numbers three, seven and nine is seven.
Etymology
From Latin mediānus, "of the middle," from medius ("middle").
Related words
Rhymes for median
See all rhymes for 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.
