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

This ranges from rising average temperatures and glacial ice loss to sea level rise and worsening natural disasters. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Fifty is considered average; two interceptions, four sacks and less than 5 yards per pass are not. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Noun

Goaltending needs to be league average at minimum, Howard and Matt Savoie need to take a big step, Jake Walman needs to bounce back, the bottom six needs to be more than dead weight and the superstars need to stay the course. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The Trojans have allowed an average of 220 yards per game this year, ranking 88th in the country in that metric. — Pj Green september 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

Courtney Vandersloot successfully returned from ACL surgery at age 37 to average five assists per game. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

The payments will average about $100 per vehicle, varying by state and premiums paid, State Farm said in a February news release. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026