Synonyms of average

average 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in median

being about midway between extremes of amount or size

since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• median
• typical
• moderate
• modest
• middle
• reasonable
• intermediate
• medium
• middling
• mean
• normal
• midsized
• standard
• midsize
• adequate
• usual
• regular
• conventional
• common
• routine
• tolerable
• popular
• commonplace
• passable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excessive
• extreme
• unusual
• exceptional
• rare
• special
• uncommon
• individual
• strange
• unique
• private
• distinctive
• peculiar
• idiosyncratic

2

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events

just an average day at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• normal
• ordinary
• usual
• typical
• standard
• common
• commonplace
• routine
• everyday
• unremarkable
• expected
• customary
• regular
• prosaic
• unexceptional
• run-of-the-mill
• garden-variety
• standard-issue
• familiar
• par for the course
• workaday
• cut-and-dried
• cut-and-dry
• homely
• plain
• predictable
• popular
• frequent
• insignificant
• trivial
• vulgar
• unimportant
• habitual
• natural
• unextraordinary
• plain-Jane
• wonted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extraordinary
• exceptional
• unusual
• abnormal
• strange
• odd
• atypical
• curious
• peculiar
• anomalous
• rare
• funny
• out-of-the-way
• quaint
• irregular
• scarce
• aberrant
• phenomenal
• untypical
• queer
• outstanding
• outrageous
• fantastic
• wild
• eccentric
• bizarre
• fantastical
• weird
• idiosyncratic
• prominent
• notable
• unprecedented
• striking
• unconventional
• unique
• wacky
• unorthodox
• signal
• freakish
• conspicuous
• offbeat
• freak
• unparalleled
• novel
• salient
• singular
• recherché
• oddball
• whacky
• unexampled
• outré
• nonconformist
• way-out
• kooky
• far-out
• Kafkaesque
• kookie

3

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind

the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• typical
• normal
• standard
• usual
• regular
• true
• characteristic
• representative
• ordinary
• archetypal
• archetypical
• conventional
• common
• customary
• classic
• everyday
• expected
• predictable
• commonplace
• routine
• predominant
• habitual
• familiar
• unremarkable
• workaday
• vintage
• unexceptional
• textbook
• wonted
• preponderant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abnormal
• atypical
• anomalous
• unusual
• deviant
• aberrant
• irregular
• uncommon
• untypical
• exceptional
• extraordinary
• special
• infrequent
• remarkable
• rare
• unique
• unconventional
• nontypical
• nonrepresentative
• unexpected
• unpredictable
• distinctive
• noteworthy
• singular
• unfamiliar
• eccentric
• unknown
• unwonted
• especial
• idiosyncratic
• peculiar
• uncustomary
• odd
• unorthodox
• strange
• curious
• erratic
• nonconformist
• outlandish
• funny
• oddball
• outrageous
• quirky
• funky
• wild
• screwy
• offbeat
• wacky
• freakish
• fantastic
• unnatural
• bizarre
• weird
• freak
• out-of-the-way
• fantastical
• whacky
• way-out
• outré
• kooky
• kookie
• far-out

average

2 of 3

noun

ˈa-v(ə-)rij 

as in norm

what is typical of a group, class, or series

my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater

Synonyms & Similar Words

• normal
• norm
• standard
• usual
• median
• ordinary
• par
• mean
• middle
• rule
• status quo
• representative
• golden mean
• commonplace
• run
• exemplar

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deviation
• exception
• anomaly
• abnormality
• rarity

average

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to measure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• measure
• reach
• equal
• number
• total
• aggregate
• count (up to)
• come (to)
• amount (to)
• sum (to or into)
• comprise
• add up (to)
• constitute
• make up
• compose

2

as in to equalize

Synonyms & Similar Words

• equalize
• even
• organize
• order
• marshall
• systematize
• square
• normalize
• methodize
• codify
• standardize
• systemize
• regularize
• rule
• marshal
• regulate
• control
• homogenize
• govern
• reconcile
• coordinate
• formalize
• certify
• synthesize
• conform
• integrate
• accredit
• conciliate
• harmonize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tailor
• customize
• individualize

Synonym Chooser

How is the word average distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of average are mean, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," 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 average?

The words mean and average are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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°

In what contexts can median take the place of average?

While the synonyms median and average are close in meaning, 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

Where would norm be a reasonable alternative to average?

In some situations, the words norm and average 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

Recent Examples of average

Adjective

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

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

Noun

The cost of living in Minnesota is 4% lower than the national average, while housing is 15% lower. —Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2025

Ewers has been solid in the postseason, completing 64 percent of his attempts for an average of 294 yards in three games with five touchdowns and four interceptions. —Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Verb

For the entire water year, downtown L.A. averages 14.25 inches of rain. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Fletcher, a very good starter, averaged 5.4 yards on 112 carries. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025