mediocrity

From Middle French médiocrité, from Latin mediocritās, from mediocris.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /miː.dɪˈɒk.ɹɪ.ti/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /mi.dɪˈɑk.ɹɪ.ti/, [mi.dɪˈɑk.ɹɪ.ɾi]

mediocrity (countable and uncountable, plural mediocrities)

1. (now rare) The quality of being intermediate between two extremes; a mean.
2. (obsolete) A middle course of action; moderation, balance.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:

     , New York Review Books 2001, p.273:

     In adversity I wish for prosperity, and in prosperity I am afraid of adversity. What mediocrity may be found?

3. (uncountable) The condition of being mediocre; having only an average degree of quality, skills etc.; no better than standard.
   • 2021 March 28, Phil McNulty, “Albania 0-2 England”, in BBC Sport‎:

     England captain Harry Kane lifted the mediocrity of an attritional first half on a slow surface when he scored his 33rd goal for his country, a superbly guided diving header from Luke Shaw's cross seven minutes before the interval.

4. An individual with mediocre abilities or achievements.

• iridectomy