MEDIAN Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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°

Q: 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

median 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of median next

as in average

being about midway between extremes of amount or size the median price of a home in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in middle

occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes determine the median point between your two speakers, and test your stereo system from there

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

median

2 of 2

noun

as in normal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The big picture: Nationwide, the median age of those getting married for the first time was nearly 30 in 2023, up two years from 2010, according to census data. —

Melissa Santos, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025 By 2040, the median age is projected to rise to more than 43 years old and seniors will constitute more than 22% of California residents. —

Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

Noun

Sacramento's median price is $480,000, well below the state median, while Fremont's $1,573,000 median price is among the highest, far surpassing the statewide average. —

Robert Thorpe, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 Meanwhile, public money has risen, from a median of $168 million per stadium in the 1990s to $350 million in the 2010s and $500 million in the 2020s. —

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for median

Recent Examples of Synonyms for median

Adjective

Temperatures in South Lake Tahoe will be below average, with the high likely staying below freezing and lows dropping to the teens to low 20s, according to the forecast.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 22 Jan. 2025
On average, the fortunes of the richest 10 billionaires — eight of whom live in the U.S. — grew by $100 million a day in 2024.

— Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025