average

av-er-age · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, calculated by dividing the sum of values by their number.

  2. 2.

    Constituting the result obtained by adding together several amounts and dividing by the number of amounts; typical or ordinary.

  3. 3.

    Neither very good nor very bad; ordinary.

  4. 4.

    To calculate the average of.

  5. 5.

    To achieve as an average rate or amount.

Forms

plural: averages

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    on average — Typically; as an average.
  • •
    above/below average — Better/worse than typical.
  • •
    average out — To result in an average over time.
  • •
    the average Joe — An ordinary person.

Related words

Antonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, unusual
See also: mean, median, ordinary, typical
Synonyms: mean, norm, ordinary, typical

Etymology

From French avarie ("damage to shipping"), from Arabic ʿawārīya ("damaged merchandise"), from ʿawār ("fault, blemish"). The mathematical sense developed from the distribution of shipping costs.