Definition of median
2a : a value in an ordered set of values below and above which there is an equal number of values or which is the arithmetic mean of the two middle values if there is no one middle numberb : a vertical line that divides the histogram of a frequency distribution into two parts of equal areac : a value of a random variable for which all greater values make the cumulative distribution function greater than one half and all lesser values make it less than one half
3a : a line from a vertex (see vertex 2) of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite sideb : a line joining the midpoints of the nonparallel sides of a trapezoid (see trapezoid 1a)
4 : median strip
From the M-W Editors
Did You Know?
People often use the word average without realizing that there are two common forms of average. Suppose you want to find the average net worth of a group of people—that is, the average value of everything they possess. To find one type of average, called the mean, you'd simply add up the total value of money and property of everyone in the group and divide it by the number of people. To find the other type, called the median, you'd identify the net worth of the person who is richer than half the people and poorer than the other half. So if Warren Buffett drove through a tiny village in India, the mean net worth of those in the village would suddenly rise to perhaps a billion dollars, but their median net worth would remain close to zero. Which figure would be more meaningful?
Origin and Etymology of median
Middle English mediane, from Late Latin mediana (vena) median (vein), from feminine of Latin medianus in the middle, central, from medius middle — more at mid
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of median
Other Anatomy Terms
median
Definition of median
1 : being in the middle or in an intermediate position : medial
2 : lying in the plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves
3 : relating to or constituting a statistical median
4 : produced without occlusion along the lengthwise middle line of the tongue
medianly
adverbExamples of median in a Sentence
What is the median price of homes in this area?
the median price of a home in the area
Origin and Etymology of median
Latin medianus —see 1median
First Known Use: 1592
MEDIAN Defined for English Language Learners
median
playDefinition of median for English Language Learners
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mathematics : the middle value in a series of values arranged from smallest to largest
median
Definition of median for English Language Learners
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: in the middle; especially mathematics : having a value that is in the middle of a series of values arranged from smallest to largest
MEDIAN Defined for Kids
median
Definition of median for Students
: a value in a series arranged from smallest to largest below and above which there are an equal number of values or which is the average of the two middle values if there is no one middle value The median of the set 1, 3, 7, 12, 19 is 7.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of median
1: a medial part (as a vein or nerve)
2a: a value in an ordered set of values below and above which there is an equal number of values or which is the arithmetic mean of the two middle values if there is no one middle numberb: a vertical line that divides the histogram of a frequency distribution into two parts of equal area
median
Medical Definition of median
: situated in the middle; specifically : lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves
Learn More about median
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for median Spanish Central: Translation of median Nglish: Translation of median for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of median for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about median
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