average

¹av·er·age

noun \ˈa-v(ə-)rij\

Definition of AVERAGE

1

a : a single value (as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values b : mean 1b

2

a : an estimation of or approximation to an arithmetic mean b : a level (as of intelligence) typical of a group, class, or series <above the average>

3

: a ratio expressing the average performance especially of an athletic team or an athlete computed according to the number of opportunities for successful performance

— on average or on the average

: taking the typical example of the group under consideration <prices have increased on average by five percent>

Examples of AVERAGE

1. The average of 16, 8, and 6 is 10.
2. Take all these temperatures and find their average.
3. An average of 2,000 people attended the show each night.
4. Prices have increased on average about eight percent.
5. On average, women live longer than men.
6. His work has been above the average.

Origin of AVERAGE

from earlier average proportionally distributed charge for damage at sea, modification of Middle French avarie damage to ship or cargo, from Old Italian avaria, from Arabic ʽawārīya damaged merchandise

First Known Use: 1732

Related to AVERAGE

Synonyms: norm, normal, par, standard

Related Words: golden mean, mean, median, middle; commonplace, ordinary, rule, run, status quo, usual; exemplar, representative

Near Antonyms: abnormality, anomaly, deviation, exception, rarity

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Synonym Discussion of AVERAGE

average, mean, median, norm mean something that represents a middle point. average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures <scored an average of 85 on tests>. mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes <a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°>. median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below <average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars>. norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade <scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic>.

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb