Any measure of central tendency, especially any mean, the median, or the mode. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
A guide to average
• The arithmetic mean.
• A financial loss due to damage to transported goods; compensation for damage or loss. Proportional or equitable distribution of financial expense. Customs duty or similar charge payable on transported goods.
• Proportional or equitable distribution of financial expense.
• Customs duty or similar charge payable on transported goods.
• An indication of a player's ability calculated from his scoring record, etc.
(Adjective) Constituting or relating to the average.
• Neither very good nor very bad; rated somewhere in the middle of all others in the same category.
• Typical.
• Not outstanding, not good, banal; bad or poor.
(Verb) To compute the average of, especially the arithmetic mean.
• Over a period of time or across members of a population, to have or generate a mean value of.
• To divide among a number, according to a given proportion.
• To be, generally or on average.
(Noun) The feudal service that a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the animals of the tenant, such as the transportation of wheat, turf, etc.
Why average is relevant in U.S. law
average appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
When and how average applies
In practice, average is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.