Added 9 October 2026
average
/ˈæv.(ə.)ɹɪd͡ʒ/ noun
In Latin: mediocris First recorded: 12th century Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about average at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A statistic describing the location of a distribution.
it set the norm for American homes
- (sports) the ratio of successful performances to opportunities.
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An intermediate scale value regarded as normal or usual.
he is about average in height
verb
adjective
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Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value.
the average income in New England is below that of the nation
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Lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered.
average people
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Lacking exceptional quality or ability.
a novel of average merit
Origin
Not entirely certain. The oldest meaning in English is “customs duty”. Borrowed from Middle French avarie (“damage to ship or cargo”), from Old French avarie, from Old Italian avaria where it is first attested in the 12th century in the context of Mediterranean trade. From there most sources trace it to Arabic عَوَارِيَّة (ʕawāriyya, “damaged goods”), from عَوَار (ʕawār, “fault, blemish, defect, flaw”), from عَوِرَ (ʕawira, “to lose an eye”), but the OED gives it a Romance derivation from Italian avere (“property, goods”) or the like. The English suffix -age was added in analogy to words like damage.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)