mediocrity

/ˈmidiˌɑkrədi/

/midiˈɒkrɪti/

Other forms: mediocrities

The noun mediocrity means the quality of being average or ordinary. You can't be great at everything — in some areas, we all fall into mediocrity.

Mediocrity, pronounced "me-dee-AH-crih-tee," has Latin parts that together literally mean "halfway up the mountain." You can see how it still applies — in climbing the mountain — or ladder — of success, mediocrity is in the middle, neither leading the pack nor sprawling on ground, giving up. Such of person of this middle-level of success can also be called a mediocrity. That's a second definition of the word.

Definitions of mediocrity

1. noun

   ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding
   synonyms: averageness

   type of:

   mundaneness, mundanity, ordinariness

   the quality of being commonplace and ordinary
2. noun

   a person of second-rate ability or value
   “shone among the mediocrities who surrounded him”

   synonyms: second-rater

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being