Mediocre: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that is not very good, but not very bad either. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting disappointment.

• The movie was mediocre; it had an interesting plot but poor execution
• His performance was mediocre, lacking the enthusiasm we expected

Used to describe something that is typical or usual. It doesn’t imply negativity but rather that something is in the middle of a scale, neither the best nor the worst.

• Her grades were average, not standing out, but sufficient to pass all classes
• The restaurant serves average food, nothing spectacular but decent enough

Used to describe something that is standard, common, or lacking special features. It can be neutral but sometimes suggest a lack of excitement or uniqueness.

• It was an ordinary day, nothing unusual happened
• His skills are ordinary, and he doesn't excel in any particular area

Used to describe something that does not stand out in any significant way. It suggests a lack of notable qualities and can sometimes have a negative implication.

• The performance was unexceptional, failing to make a strong impression
• His contributions were unexceptional, not adding any special value to the project

Used to describe something that is neither good nor bad, but rather just adequate, often with a negative connotation indicating it should be better.

• The movie was mediocre; I expected it to be much better.
• The restaurant's service was mediocre, nothing special.

Used in neutral or statistical contexts to describe something that is typical or common, without strong positive or negative connotations.

• Her performance on the test was average, not outstanding but not terrible either.
• The weather this month has been average for this time of year.

Implies something is very common and lacks special qualities, often neutral but can be negative in context to show lack of excitement or uniqueness.

• He lived an ordinary life, with no major events to speak of.
• The dress was quite ordinary, nothing that would make it stand out.

Used to stress that something is not worthy of notice or attention, often with a negative connotation indicating it fails to impress.

• The presentation was unremarkable, and no one remembered it afterward.
• Her performance was unremarkable compared to her earlier achievements.