median 1 of 2

median

2 of 2

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
More recent estimates from ValuePenguin put the median closer to $3,400 as of 2024, reflecting slight growth but still underscoring how little liquidity most families maintain. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 Flat monthly with median of $900,000; flat year over year. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
The recent release of 2024 housing cost data tells us that California homeowners paid a median HOA fee of $278 a month, the ninth-highest expense nationally. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 Rent is based on income, with costs lower than the city's average for those earning 50% to 70% of the area's median income. Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for median
Recent Examples of Synonyms for median
Adjective
  • The exchange calculated that California consumers on exchange plans would see an average premium increase of 97% if the credits are not extended.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The study then looked at nightlife, factoring in average beer and wine prices, movie costs, nightlife options, music festivals and access to bars and other factors.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The weaknesses Detroit’s middle six leaves a lot to be desired.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The economy is the top challenge for Iran’s ruling clerics, who fear a revival of protests that have erupted since 2017 by lower and middle-income communities angry at growing poverty because of sanctions, mismanagement and state corruption.
    Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Unfortunately, this just seems to be the new normal for DJI, and not just for drones.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Temperatures will be near seasonal normals today, then cooler than normal again tomorrow.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Only two of Swift’s albums appear below the halfway mark on the 200-spot ranking.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • As Phoenix passes the halfway mark of this year’s monsoon, dramatic downpours, gusty haboobs and streaks of lightning across the sky have been mostly absent.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Anchoring the disparate variants of the LeBron 23 while serving as a containment system is a large panel shaped like James’ crown logo taking up the majority of the medial upper.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, there’s a name for this: shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome in medical-speak.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Another potential cause is a white dwarf — a dead star as heavy as our sun but condensed to the size of Earth — being ripped apart by a rare intermediate-mass black hole.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Wells Fargo suggests moving money into the intermediate part of the curve.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression is likely to form by mid to late week as the system moves west-northwestward.
    Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Best straight-leg jeans Top light-wash straight-leg jeans These jeans are a mid-waist fit and use elastane to provide a little bit of give as opposed to a traditional cotton denim material.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Median.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/median. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on median

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!