Word
median
Phoneticsme·di·an, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmidiən/
UK/mˈiːdiːən/
Definitions
01middle number
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. the middle value in a list of numbers ordered from smallest to largest.
n. the value separating the higher half from the lower half of a data sample or probability distribution.
“To find the median, we listed the test scores from lowest to highest and picked the one in the middle.”
“While the mean income was skewed by a few billionaires, the median income provided a more accurate reflection of the typical household's finances.”
Usage
In a set with an even number of values, the median is the mean of the two central values.
Pitfall
The median of 2, 4, and 9 is 5.
The median of 2, 4, and 9 is 4.
The median is the actual middle number in the sorted list, not the average (mean) of the numbers.
02road divider
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. the area of land or a barrier that separates two sides of a busy road.
n. the reserved area separating opposing lanes of traffic on a divided highway.
“The car hit the median after the driver lost control on the icy highway.”
“City planners decided to plant native shrubs along the highway median to improve the aesthetic appeal and reduce headlight glare for oncoming drivers.”
Teaching tip
In British English, this is almost always called the 'central reservation'.
Synonyms
03geometry line
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a line drawn from a corner of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side.
n. a line segment joining a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.
“The teacher asked us to draw a median for each side of the triangle.”
“The three medians of any triangle intersect at a single point called the centroid, which serves as the geometric center of the shape.”
04middle or central
C1 · Advanced Technical
adj. located in the middle or center of something.
adj. situated in the middle, especially in a central or intermediate position.
Español:mediano
“The median nerve runs down the middle of your arm to your hand.”
“The researchers focused on the median strip of the forest, where the environmental conditions differed significantly from the edges.”
Usage
Often used in medical or biological contexts to describe the midline of a body or organ.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Median rent in the city increased from US$1,146 a month in 2019 to $1,627 in 2024.” “The median follow-up period was approximately 3.5 years.” Etymology
From Media + -n.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/median
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0