median 1 of 2

Definition of mediannext

median

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word median distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of median are average, mean, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

When would average be a good substitute for median?

The meanings of average and median largely overlap; however, average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When can mean be used instead of median?

The words mean and median can be used in similar contexts, but mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

When might norm be a better fit than median?

In some situations, the words norm and median are roughly equivalent. However, norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of median
Adjective
According to Best Interest Financial, homes in Fresno had a median listing price of $434,926, compared to a median sales price of $428,678. Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The median share of A grades awarded in the Arts and Humanities division from 2015 through 2025 rose by more than those in Social Sciences or Sciences, according to internal grading data viewed by Bloomberg. Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
For staff, the study found that base salaries were slightly below the market median for higher education institutions and about 10% below the general industry standard. Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Bitcoin traded near $64,000 on Tuesday, pinned between the firm's $63,000 median realized price and the $68,700 short-term holder cost basis. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for median
Recent Examples of Synonyms for median
Adjective
  • His overall offensive touch and instincts are average, but there’s enough to his game to be a potential third-line forward, maybe even as a center.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The speed at which participants first focused on an image, and the average length of time participants spent looking at each image, were both recorded and turned into a score.
    Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Alexander Command adds a solid two-way center to the mix, giving the Devils a couple of quality middle-of-the-lineup pieces.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Through six years of middle and high school, girls undergo rigorous academic training.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But with climate change, the pace of this July’s flash flooding, and that of the past two years, may just be the new normal for mid-summer.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • But the idea of global water bankruptcy shows that in many places, there’s no old normal to go back to.
    Sara Roversi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • The 26-year-old information technology administrator consumed a Red Bull energy drink around the film's halfway mark to stay alert.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 July 2026
  • The Pirates are 9 1/2 games behind the National League Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers – but only two games out of a playoff spot at the halfway point in the season.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • The operation is a grafting procedure in which doctors take tendons from another part of the body – the forearm, hamstring, hip or knee – and replace the medial ligament in the elbow with the grafted portion.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medial care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Adjective
  • McMillan set the Panthers’ rookie receiving yards record in a single season; his 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame provided Young with a red zone threat and intermediate threat that the Panthers desperately needed.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Really, though, this Vuelta’s battle between Pedersen and Van Aert for green could be tremendous — and given their ability to contend in the intermediate sprints, played out on almost every stage of this year’s race.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Two weeks for OpenAI is not the same as two weeks for a mid-sized enterprise standing up its first AI security program.
    Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • His shot is a major asset, with Nyman being a mid-range threat to score from range.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Median.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/median. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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