B1adjective2K

Mediocre

UK //ˌmiː.dɪˈəʊ.kər//US //ˌmiː.dɪˈoʊ.kɚ//

Definition

Of only moderate quality; not very good.

In simple words: Not very good or bad; just okay

Examples

The movie received mediocre reviews from critics.
His performance was merely mediocre despite all the practice he put in.
She was disappointed with the mediocre food at the restaurant.
Many students produce mediocre work due to lack of effort.
In a competition, nobody wants to be labeled as mediocre.

Usage notes

Typically used to describe performance, quality, or skill. Best avoided in formal contexts when possible; may be too negative in some situations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'me-deo-cre' like 'meh' plus 'do', meaning just okay.

Collocations

mediocre performance
mediocre quality
mediocre skills

Synonyms

average
unremarkable
ordinary
fair
passable

Antonyms

excellent
superb
outstanding

Common mistakes

Used interchangeably with 'average', which can be misleading in context.
Confused with 'mediocrity', which is a noun.
Overused in casual conversation, leading to a lack of impact.