ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mediocrity

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˌmidiˈɑkɹəti// UK //mˌiːdɪˈɒkɹɪti// medi·ocrity Archaic

n. the quality of being average or not very good, especially when you expected something better. It describes a situation where someone does just enough to get by without being excellent.

n. the state or quality of being of only moderate or low quality; ordinariness. Often carries a pejorative connotation, implying a lack of ambition or failure to reach a higher standard.


SIMPLE

The team was tired of settling for mediocrity.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite having a large budget, the film was a work of pure mediocrity that failed to impress critics.

COMPLEX

In a culture that increasingly rewards viral trends over craftsmanship, many artists fear that genuine talent is being drowned out by comfortable mediocrity.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French médiocrité, from Latin mediocritās, from mediocris; by surface analysis, mediocre + -ity.

Usage

Primarily uncountable when referring to the quality; can be countable when referring to a person of mediocre ability.

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