What does mean mean?
“Mean” is a versatile English word with two broad groups of meanings. As an adjective, it describes someone who is unkind, spiteful, stingy, or deliberately unpleasant, as in “a mean trick.” It can also refer to something low in quality, size, or importance, such as “a mean portion.” As a verb, “mean” means to intend or signify: “What do you mean?” or “This symbol means equality.” In another common sense, it means to have a particular value or average, as in statistical calculations. The word can therefore describe a person’s behavior, explain an intention, interpret a sign, or express the purpose of an action. Its emotional force is strongest in the personal sense, where it carries a clear implication of cruelty or contempt. The mathematical sense is neutral and technical. Understanding these distinctions helps avoid confusion between the adjective and the several functions of the verb.
Unkind, spiteful, or lacking in generosity; also, low in quality, size, or importance.
"He was mean to his younger brother."
To intend, signify, or represent a particular meaning, purpose, or value.
"The colored lights mean that the road is closed."
In mathematics, “mean” specifically refers to the arithmetic average.
One word can describe both a person’s cruelty and a number’s mathematical average: context turns “mean” from an insult into a statistical description.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mean come from?
The adjective “mean” developed from Old English, where related forms conveyed the idea of common, shared, or ordinary, and later came to describe low quality or unkind behavior. The verb comes from Old English mǣnan, meaning “to tell,” “to inform,” or “to mean,” and is related to Old Norse mēna and Old High German mēnen. The word’s history reflects a shift from indicating what is shared or understood to expressing intention, significance, and, eventually, mathematical averages.
Related word forms
How mean is actually used
As an adjective describing a person, “mean” is informal and strongly critical. In mathematics and statistics, “mean” is a technical term for arithmetic average. When used with a person or group in phrases such as “so mean,” it is informal and generally disparaging.
Easily confused with mean
“Mean” can be an adjective describing unkindness or low quality, while “means” is commonly the third-person singular of “mean” when referring to intention or significance, or a plural noun meaning resources or a method.
“Meant” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “mean,” whereas the standalone adjective “mean” describes an unkind or low-quality character.