Mediocre is a word that may confuse spellers due to its unusual pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription for mediocre is /ˌmiː.diˈoʊ.kər/ which consists of three syllables. The stress is on the second syllable, "di", while the "o" sound is pronounced as "oh". The final "c" is pronounced as "ker" and not "k" due to the influence of the following "e". Understanding the IPA transcription can simplify the spelling of "mediocre" and help pronounce it correctly.
Mediocre is an adjective that describes something of average or ordinary quality. It refers to something that is neither exceptionally good nor exceptionally bad, but rather falls somewhere in the middle. The word mediocre is often used to express a lack of excellence, proficiency, or superiority in a particular aspect or field.
When describing a person, mediocre refers to someone who possesses average or moderate abilities, skills, or talents. They may lack the exceptional qualities or achievements that would distinguish them from others. They often exhibit a lack of ambition or drive, settling for satisfactory or adequate performance rather than striving for greatness.
In terms of objects or things, a mediocre item is one that is considered average, unremarkable, or unimpressive in terms of its quality, design, or performance. It does not stand out in any positive way, but it is also not particularly bad or flawed.
The term mediocre can also be used to describe an experience or event that is lackluster, unexciting, or average. It implies that the experience does not meet the desired standards, lacks novelty, or fails to leave a lasting impression.
Overall, mediocre conveys a sense of mediocrity, averageness, or ordinariness in various contexts, suggesting that something or someone does not meet higher expectations or standards of excellence.
• Of moderate degree; middle rate.
• A person of middling or but indifferent talents or merit.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "mediocre" can be traced back to the Latin roots "mediocris", which is a combination of two words: "medius", meaning "middle", and "ocris", meaning "mountain". Therefore, the literal meaning of "mediocris" is "of middling height or size". Over time, the term evolved to encompass the connotation of being average or ordinary.