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average
/ˈævərɪdʒ/
a typical or common value
The average temperature in summer is 25°C.
This means that 25°C is the typical temperature during summer.
general
a typical or common value in a set of data
The average salary in this city is $50,000 per year.
This means that most people in this city earn around $50,000 annually.
The average is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values.
general
of ordinary or acceptable quality
The food at this restaurant is average.
This means the food is neither very good nor very bad.
When used as an adjective, 'average' describes something that is typical or ordinary.
Collocations
on averagegenerally or typicallybelow averageworse than the typical valueabove averagebetter than the typical value
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Mathematical vs. Everyday Use
In math, 'average' usually means the mean, but in everyday language, it can mean typical or ordinary.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overgeneralization
An average is a summary statistic and may not represent all data points accurately.
Word Origin
From Old French 'averie' (damage, loss), from 'avarie' (damage to goods), from Italian 'avaria' (damage), from Arabic 'ʿawāriyya' (damage, loss). The mathematical sense emerged in the 17th century.
Usage Notes
In statistics, 'average' can refer to the mean, median, or mode, but in everyday language, it usually means the mean. As an adjective, it describes something that is typical or ordinary.
Word Breakdown
aver
to turn
root-age
action or result
suffixEnglish Dictionary