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

For vehicles in particular, rates can spike 25% to 40% higher than the average cost in Michigan, which can increase the cost of moving goods and maintaining retail inventory. — Stephanie Leiser, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026

The downsides of fireworks—trash, smoke, wildfire, dog trauma—are something that the average spectator pushes out of mind. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Noun

Persistent heatwaves and below-average rainfall have pushed sections of the Danube to exceptionally low levels across Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026

The projections don’t agree but this sort of skill set should produce an above-average hitter. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

His 14 home runs have averaged 418 feet in length, which is tied for the best average in the majors this season. — ABC News, 8 July 2026

While the company has received some low scores on the customer review site, Trustpilot, its BBB scores average higher. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 8 July 2026