What does median mean Meaning and Definition
What does median mean
Pronunciation
/ˈmiːdɪən/
Part of Speech
Noun, adjective
Definition
A value that separates a data set into two equal parts, where half the values are above it and half are below it.
Examples
- The median household income in the city is $50,000.
- The median score on the math test was 80.
Synonyms
- Middle value
- Centile
Antonyms
- Average
- Mode
Additional Information
The median is often used as a measure of central tendency in statistics because it is resistant to extreme values and can be used with both numerical and categorical data. In contrast to the mean, the median is more robust against outliers and can be used to describe the average value of a skewed distribution.
In everyday language, the median is often used to describe a typical or average value, such as the median age of a population or the median price of a house in a neighborhood.
The median is related to other statistical measures, such as the mode (the most frequently occurring value) and the mean (the sum of all values divided by the number of values). Understanding the median can help individuals make informed decisions when working with data.
Etymology
The word “median” comes from the Latin “medius,” meaning “middle.”
Usage Notes
When using the median in a sentence, it’s important to make it clear what it refers to. For example, “The median score on the test was 80” is clear, but “The median was 80” could be ambiguous.
The median can be used in different contexts, such as finance, science, or social science. In each field, the median can have a slightly different meaning or application.
Cultural References
The median has been referenced in popular culture, such as in the TV show “The Office” where the character Michael Scott uses the median to describe the average age of the employees.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Median is not typically used in idiomatic expressions, but it can be used in phrases such as “the median income” or “the median age.”
Related Words or Phrases
Related words or phrases include “mean,” “mode,” and “average.”
Collocations
Common collocations with the word “median” include “median income,” “median age,” and “median score.”
Frequency of Use
The word “median” is commonly used in academic and professional settings, but it is not typically used in casual conversation.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of “median” include “medain,” “medean,” and “medion.”