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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

mediocre

mee-dih-OH-kuh

Mediocre (adj) means Neither good nor bad; average in a disappointing way. Example: “The reviews called the film mediocre at best.”

adj
1
Neither good nor bad; average in a disappointing way.
"The reviews called the film mediocre at best."
"He gave a mediocre performance compared to his usual standard."

How to use mediocre

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishJust okay, unremarkable, and a bit of a letdown given what was expected.

Common pairings
mediocre performance mediocre food mediocre results

Word forms

more mediocre comparative, mediocres plural, most mediocre superlative

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Fill the gap

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The reviews called the film _____ at best.

Etymology

From French médiocre, from Latin mediocris ("in a middle state, moderate"), from medius ("middle").

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “mediocre” mean?

The word “mediocre” means neither good nor bad; average in a disappointing way. In plain terms, just okay, unremarkable, and a bit of a letdown given what was expected.

How do you pronounce “mediocre”?

“Mediocre” is pronounced mee-dih-OH-kuh (/ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “mediocre” in a sentence?

Here is “mediocre” used in a sentence: “The reviews called the film mediocre at best.”

What is the opposite of “mediocre”?

The opposite of “mediocre” — its antonyms — are A-grade, awesome, bad, excellent and good.

What part of speech is “mediocre”?

“Mediocre” is an adjective.

Where does the word “mediocre” come from?

The word “mediocre” comes from Latin. From French médiocre, from Latin mediocris ("in a middle state, moderate"), from medius ("middle").

Is “mediocre” a common word?

“Mediocre” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial