Middlingness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being average or mediocre in nature or performance is referred to as a moderate state of adequacy or insignificance
2. A condition characterized by a lack of distinction or excellence, indicating an intermediate level of achievement or value
3. The state of existing as neither remarkable nor poor, but rather occupying a middle ground in terms of capability or quality

Etymology: Middlingness is about as transparent as English compounds get: "middling" plus the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. "Middling" itself is an older English adjective meaning moderate, mediocre or of medium size or quality, and it is the root that does the real work here. Adding "-ness" to adjectives like "middling" is a long-standing way of naming the condition of being that thing, so "middlingness" simply denotes the state of being average or middling.

Synonyms: mediocrity

Antonyms: excellence, superiority