Mediocrity

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Dictionary Meaning and Definition on 'Mediocrity'

Mediocrity Meaning and Definition from WordNet (r) 2.0
    mediocrity n
  1. ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding [syn: averageness]
  2. a person of second-rate ability or value; "a team of aging second-raters"; "shone among the mediocrities who surrounded him" [syn: second-rater]
Mediocrity Meaning and Definition from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
    Mediocrity \Me`di*oc"ri*ty\, n. [F. m['e]diocrit['e], L. mediocritas.]
  1. The quality of being mediocre; a middle state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. ``A mediocrity of success.'' --Bacon.
  2. Moderation; temperance. [Obs.] --Hooker.
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Wikipedia Meaning and Definition on 'Mediocrity'


The mediocrity principle is the notion in philosophy of science that there is nothing special about humans or the Earth. It is a Copernican principle, used either as a heuristic about Earth's position or as a philosophical statement about the place of humanity.

In a broader context, the mediocrity principle states that:

(1) life on Earth depends on just a few basic molecules; (2) the elements that make up these molecules are (to a greater or lesser extent) common to all stars, and (3) the laws of science we know apply to the entire universe (and there is no reason to assume that they do not), (Conclusion) then – given sufficient time – life must have originated elsewhere in the cosmos.

The mediocrity principle as applied to humanity's and Earth' existence is further boosted by:

[See more about Mediocrity at Dictionary 3.0 Encyclopedia]

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'Mediocrity' in famous quotation sentence


* It is cruel to discover one's mediocrity only when it is too late. - W. Somerset Maugham

* The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake... - Nelson Boswell

* Over-seriousness is a warning sign for mediocrity and bureaucratic thinking. People who are seriously committed to mastery and high performance are secure enough to lighten up. - Michael J. Gelb


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Mediocrity Sample Sentences in News


  • 'Industry of mediocrity': Rookie teachers woefully unprepared, report says
    The teacher training system is badly broken, turning out rookie educators who have little hands-on experience running classrooms and are quickly overwhelmed by the job, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.The review found "an industry of mediocrity," with the vast majority of programs earning fewer than three stars on Read more on this news related to 'Mediocrity'
  • Teacher training: 'Industry of mediocrity,' says controversial report
    Quantity over quality? Teacher training programs are turning out too many teachers, says a new review from the National Council on Teacher Quality, and they're poorly equipped to face the classroom. Read more on this news related to 'Mediocrity'
  • Report: U.S. teacher training an "industry of mediocrity"
    The National Council on Teacher Quality says there are triple the number of teacher graduates needed every year Read more on this news related to 'Mediocrity'

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