median 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of mediannext
1
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
2
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

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Dissimilar Words

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
Here are a few other notable towns that ranked among LendingTree’s top 50 for median home value. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The other four would be leased at levels targeted to people making 60% of the median income. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
Yet most Gen Xers haven't saved nearly enough for retirement, with a median of $107,000 in savings. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Japan is notable, with a current term premium of 239 basis points and a historical median of 165 basis points. — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for median
Recent Examples of Synonyms for median
  1. average
  2. middle
  3. normal
  4. halfway
  5. medial
  6. intermediate
  7. mid
Adjective
  • Across this period, there has been a strong correlation between higher average possession and points per game.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The required earnings amount is adjusted annually to reflect changes in average wages, so the threshold generally rises over time.
    — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • Munoz knows this too, saying brands have plenty of young people to hawk their wares but not middle-aged influencers.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But despite the initial slide, Case said the opportunity to serve the middle market at the scale the company now can through the acquisition has tremendous value potential for shareholders.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of middle
Noun
  • But with climate change, the pace of this July’s flash flooding, and that of the past two years, may just be the new normal for mid-summer.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • But the idea of global water bankruptcy shows that in many places, there’s no old normal to go back to.
    — Sara Roversi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The 26-year-old information technology administrator consumed a Red Bull energy drink around the film's halfway mark to stay alert.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 July 2026
  • The Pirates are 9 1/2 games behind the National League Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers – but only two games out of a playoff spot at the halfway point in the season.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of halfway
Adjective
  • This is matched with bright red branding which is seen on the lateral and medial Swoosh and Ja-frame components.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The operation is a grafting procedure in which doctors take tendons from another part of the body – the forearm, hamstring, hip or knee – and replace the medial ligament in the elbow with the grafted portion.
    — Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of medial
Adjective
  • Similarly, Olmsted of Morningstar noted that the duration investors would find in the core bond space – which also tends to be intermediate term – also works as a diversifier.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Fagnano was able to diagnose some of the disguises from Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, finding soft spots in zone coverages both in the short and intermediate areas of the field.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of intermediate
Adjective
  • Watch trends throughout the year, not just at the big moments like annual enrollment or mid-year reviews.
    — Marcy Klipfel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The fragrance features top notes of bergamot, basil and saffron, with mid notes of wild fig, agarwood, pinot noir accord and base notes of incense, papyrus and black amber.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of mid

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medians
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Cite this Entry

“Median.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/median. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on median

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about median

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