average
noun (countable)
UK/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/US/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/
The value obtained by adding several quantities together and then dividing by the number of quantities; the mean.
Example Sentences
If you add 2, 4, and 10 and then divide by 3, the average is roughly 5.33.
The class average on the final exam was surprisingly high.
When assessing business performance, the average revenue per day is a key indicator of success.
Although the average can be helpful, it sometimes masks outliers that can skew the data significantly.
You can calculate the batting average of a baseball player to evaluate their performance at the plate.
Many economists focus on the average income rather than the median, although this can give a skewed picture of wealth distribution.
The average number of visitors per hour can guide staffing decisions to ensure smooth operations throughout the day.
Because one extreme data point was unusually high, the average did not accurately represent the typical range of values observed in the study.
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adjective
UK/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/US/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/
Typical or usual in amount, quality, degree, or rate; neither very good nor very bad.
Example Sentences
His test results were average, showing neither exceptional strengths nor weaknesses.
She prefers a higher standard of accommodation, finding the hotel’s average quality disappointing.
On an average working day, he responds to over fifty emails and attends at least three meetings.
Despite a flashy marketing campaign, reviews concluded that the product was of merely average quality.
With an average annual temperature of 25°C, the island attracts tourists throughout the year, especially those seeking a mild, consistent climate.
Although they strive for excellence, most employees reach an average performance level during their first year, before additional training improves their skills.
The movie garnered mixed reviews, with critics calling the cinematography outstanding but the storyline relatively average, lacking enough depth to captivate viewers fully.
Because the basketball team’s star players were injured, their performance in the final game was average at best, disappointing fans who were expecting a more thrilling match.
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verb (transitive)
UK/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/US/ˈæv.ər.ɪdʒ/
To have or produce an average; to calculate or find the mean of certain quantities; to amount to a typical or usual level over time.
Example Sentences
Our online store tends to average around fifty orders per day during the off-season.
The restaurant hopes to average more customers on weekends, especially after introducing the new brunch menu.
To get a better sense of fuel consumption, he tracked the car's mileage over several months to see how many miles it would average per gallon.
The professor asked the class to average their lab results and compare them to the theoretical values to check for consistency.
Over the past two years, they average three new product launches annually, ensuring a steady flow of innovations.
When you average all these data points, you see a clear upward trend in sales despite occasional dips.
Although we only had a few clients at first, we now average at least one new account per day, indicating steady growth in our market share.
By closely monitoring daily activities and expenses, the business aims to average lower operational costs without compromising the quality of its products or services.
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How to Use
A general level or norm calculated or perceived from multiple data points, often the mean of figures.“Average” commonly refers to a central or typical value within a range of data. In math and statistics, the term often implies the mean (sum of values divided by their count), though one might also see median or mode described as types of averages. Beyond mathematics, “average” describes something standard or ordinary—like “an average day,” “average performance,” or “just average results.” When people compute an average, they aim to capture a single value that represents or approximates the set as a whole. In daily usage, if you say, “On average, I walk about 10,000 steps a day,” you’re highlighting your typical daily step count over time, acknowledging some days may be higher or lower. If focusing on the connotation of mediocrity, calling someone “average” can imply they’re neither outstanding nor terrible—just in the middle. In many contexts, from exam scores to sports statistics, comparing your score or performance to the average reveals whether you’re above, below, or right at the norm. Meanwhile, in finance or economics, “moving average” or “weighted average” might come up, underscoring how certain values weigh more in the calculation. All in all, “average” helps gauge central tendencies or typical levels, simplifying how we describe varying or fluctuating data.
Alternatives
Depending on context, synonyms for “average” might be “mean,” “standard,” “typical,” “median,” or “norm.” Each aligns with slightly different nuances: “mean” usually denotes the arithmetic average in math, “median” is the middle value of a sorted list, “typical” or “standard” can highlight a representative notion, and “norm” can point to a social or statistical standard. Meanwhile, “par” in golf or “benchmark” in performance evaluations might serve specialized contexts but align with the concept of a baseline level.
Writing
When writing about “average,” clarify what method or data set you’re referencing. In an academic or technical paper, specify arithmetic mean, median, or mode if relevant. For example, “The arithmetic mean (average) of test scores was 75,” while the median might differ. In more casual or narrative texts, “average” implies a general or typical result—“He cycles an average of 50 miles a week.” If describing broader usage, like “above average intelligence” or “average rainfall,” state the data or timeframe behind it. In organizational or finance reports, detail any weighted or moving averages, explaining why that approach suits your analysis. Consistent definitions of “average” ensure transparency so readers understand precisely how you’re summarizing data or performance.
Casual Conversation
In everyday talk, you might say, “It was an average day—nothing special happened,” or “He’s just an average student, not top of the class but not failing either.” People often compare themselves to an average in health or fitness: “I usually walk more than average” or “We spent about the average amount on groceries this month.” Friends may discuss sports stats—like “He’s batting .300, which is above the league average.” Meanwhile, if a buddy says, “My data usage is way above average,” they’re highlighting being out of the norm. Overall, casual usage underscores typical conditions, moderate results, or standard expectations—something neither minimal nor exceptional, just in the comfortable middle.
Etymology
“Average” originates from the Arabic “ʿawār,” meaning “damage or defect,” which passed into Old French as “avarie,” referencing costs or damages in maritime trade that needed distribution among merchants. Over time, the term shifted in Middle English to “average,” denoting an apportioned or shared cost of loss at sea. From there, it developed into the general sense of splitting or determining a central measure of sums, eventually covering the notion of a statistical mean. Thus, the maritime concept of distributing risk or cost proportionally evolved into the modern numerical concept of a central or typical measure in various data sets.
