The median value of a set of values is the middle one when they are arranged in order. For example, if a group of five students take a test and their marks are 5, 7, 7, 8, and 10, the median mark is 7.
[technical]
Synonyms: middle, mid, halfway, medial More Synonyms of median
2. countable noun
A median is the same as a median strip.
[US]
median in British English
(ˈmiːdɪən)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, situated in, or directed towards the middle
2. biology
of or relating to the plane that divides an organism or organ into symmetrical parts
3. statistics
of or relating to the median
noun
4.
a middle point, plane, or part
5. geometry
a.
a straight line joining one vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side
See also centroid
b.
a straight line joining the midpoints of the nonparallel sides of a trapezium
6. statistics
the middle value in a frequency distribution, below and above which lie values with equal total frequencies
7. statistics
the middle number or average of the two middle numbers in an ordered sequence of numbers
7 is the median of both 1, 7, 31 and 2, 5, 9, l6
8. Also called: (chiefly Brit) central reserve Canadian
the strip, often covered with grass, that separates the two sides of a highway
Derived forms
medianly (ˈmedianly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin mediānus, from medius middle
Median in American English
(ˈmidiən)
adjective
1.
of Media or its people, language, or culture
noun
2.
a Mede
3.
the language of the ancient Medes
median in American English
(ˈmidiən)
adjective
1.
middle; intermediate
2.
a.
designating a line extending from a vertex of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side
b.
designating a line joining the midpoints of the nonparallel sides of a trapezoid
3.
a.
designating the plane that divides a body or part into symmetrical parts
b.
situated in this plane
4. Statistics
a.
designating the middle number in a series containing an odd number of items (Ex.: 7 in the series 1, 4, 7, 16, 43)
b.
designating the number midway between the two middle numbers in a series containing an even number of items (Ex.: 10 in the series 3, 4, 8, 12, 46, 72)
see also average, mean3, mode
noun
5.
a median number, point, or line
6.
an artery, vein, nerve, etc. in the middle of the body or along the imaginary plane that bisects the body into the right and left halves
7. US
the strip of land separating the lanes of opposing traffic of a divided highway
: in full median strip
Derived forms
medianly (ˈmedianly)
adverb
Word origin
L medianus < medius, middle: see mid1
Examples of 'median' in a sentence
median
It also issued a fresh call for companies to publish the multiple of chief executive pay to median earnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is roughly two years' worth of earnings after tax for a person on the median British salary.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The median annual household income went up by 5.2 per cent from a year earlier, the first increase in eight years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is a median average between the varying tastes of him and her.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The median number of seasons was two until promotion and three until relegation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They will if median earnings increase a lot.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The median age will be in the middle twenties.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
The last business cycle was the first in which the income of the median household declined.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This ratio shows what percentage of the local median county household income adult attendees and giving units are contributing to your church.
Christianity Today (2000)
The report said that the median rise in earnings over the period was 56 per cent.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The real median household income is just over $50,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Second, the figure for median household wealth covers a huge range.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And the German median household net wealth?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To put this in perspective: the median salary in this country is 26,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It reported that the median pay settlement in the rolling quarter to January was 3.5 per cent.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In 1997 the average English home cost three times as much as the median local salary.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The median age was 22; the average height was four inches shorter.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The poverty line of 235 is defined as 60 per cent of median earnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The median age stands at 30, outside the target group.
The Sun (2012)
In most organisations, almost half the staff will receive less than median pay, in some cases much less.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
median
British English: median ADJECTIVE
The median is the number that is in the middle of a set of numbers when they are arranged in order. For example, in the numbers 1,2,3,4,5, the median is 3.