Synonyms of average

average 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in median

being about midway between extremes of amount or size

since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• median
• typical
• moderate
• modest
• middle
• reasonable
• intermediate
• medium
• middling
• mean
• normal
• standard
• midsize
• adequate
• usual
• regular
• conventional
• common
• routine
• tolerable
• popular
• commonplace
• passable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excessive
• extreme
• unusual
• exceptional
• rare
• special
• uncommon
• individual
• strange
• unique
• private
• distinctive
• peculiar
• idiosyncratic

2

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events

just an average day at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• normal
• ordinary
• usual
• typical
• standard
• common
• routine
• commonplace
• regular
• everyday
• unremarkable
• expected
• customary
• prosaic
• unexceptional
• run-of-the-mill
• garden-variety
• standard-issue
• familiar
• par for the course
• workaday
• cut-and-dried
• homely
• plain
• predictable
• popular
• frequent
• insignificant
• trivial
• vulgar
• unimportant
• habitual
• natural
• unextraordinary
• plain-Jane
• wonted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extraordinary
• unusual
• exceptional
• abnormal
• strange
• odd
• curious
• atypical
• peculiar
• rare
• anomalous
• funny
• out-of-the-way
• quaint
• irregular
• scarce
• aberrant
• queer
• phenomenal
• outstanding
• wild
• fantastic
• outrageous
• eccentric
• untypical
• bizarre
• weird
• prominent
• idiosyncratic
• notable
• striking
• unprecedented
• unique
• unconventional
• unorthodox
• conspicuous
• signal
• novel
• unparalleled
• salient
• singular
• wacky
• recherché
• oddball
• freakish
• outré
• nonconformist
• way-out
• offbeat
• freak
• kooky
• far-out
• Kafkaesque
• unexampled

3

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind

the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• typical
• normal
• standard
• usual
• regular
• true
• characteristic
• representative
• ordinary
• archetypal
• conventional
• common
• customary
• classic
• predictable
• everyday
• expected
• commonplace
• routine
• predominant
• habitual
• familiar
• unremarkable
• workaday
• unexceptional
• vintage
• textbook
• wonted
• preponderant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abnormal
• atypical
• anomalous
• unusual
• deviant
• irregular
• uncommon
• aberrant
• exceptional
• special
• extraordinary
• remarkable
• infrequent
• rare
• unique
• unconventional
• unexpected
• distinctive
• nonrepresentative
• unpredictable
• nontypical
• noteworthy
• untypical
• singular
• unfamiliar
• unknown
• eccentric
• peculiar
• especial
• idiosyncratic
• odd
• strange
• curious
• unorthodox
• erratic
• uncustomary
• funny
• outlandish
• unwonted
• outrageous
• wild
• fantastic
• unnatural
• bizarre
• weird
• nonconformist
• out-of-the-way
• oddball
• quirky
• wacky
• funky
• screwy
• offbeat
• freakish
• freak
• way-out
• kooky
• outré
• far-out

average

2 of 3

noun

ˈa-v(ə-)rij 

as in norm

what is typical of a group, class, or series

my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater

Synonyms & Similar Words

• normal
• norm
• standard
• usual
• median
• ordinary
• par
• mean
• middle
• rule
• status quo
• representative
• golden mean
• commonplace
• run
• exemplar

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deviation
• exception
• anomaly
• abnormality
• rarity

average

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to measure

Related Words

• measure
• reach
• equal
• number
• total
• aggregate
• count (up to)
• come (to)
• amount (to)
• sum (to or into)
• comprise
• add up (to)
• constitute
• make up
• compose

2

as in to equalize

Related Words

• equalize
• even
• organize
• order
• systematize
• square
• normalize
• methodize
• codify
• standardize
• systemize
• regularize
• rule
• marshal
• regulate
• control
• homogenize
• govern
• reconcile
• coordinate
• formalize
• certify
• synthesize
• conform
• integrate
• accredit
• conciliate
• harmonize

Dissimilar Words

• tailor
• customize
• individualize

Synonym Chooser

How is the word average distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of average are mean, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," 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 average?

The words mean and average are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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°

In what contexts can median take the place of average?

While the synonyms median and average are close in meaning, 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

Where would norm be a reasonable alternative to average?

In some situations, the words norm and average 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

Recent Examples of average

Adjective

Analysts say Lula has a potentially narrow path to victory through boosting voter turnout in the three most populous states — Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro — that also have above-average abstention rates. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

In May, South African authorities said the average annual budget allocation for Statistics South Africa — the government department responsible for gathering and publishing official statistics — had fallen by 23% in real terms since 2019. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Morgan Stanley estimates Muse's serving costs at $3 to $130 per month, with an average of $37 per user, depending on inference usage. — Kif Leswing,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

California has the most expensive average gas prices in the country, with the average in every other state below $6 per gallon. — Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

To enable the additional renewable capacity to come online, investment to expand, modernize, and build flexibility on the grid must average up to $1 trillion a year, up from $525 billion in 2025. — Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Mussels mostly record summer water temperatures, and those turned out to average about 26°. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026