average

the law of averages

the probability that you will get one result about the same number of times as another if you do something often enough. By the law of averages we can't give a good performance every night of the tour.

See also: law

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average out to something

to equal an amount over a period of time. I think our hotel costs would average out to thirty-five or forty dollars a night per person.

on the average

usually. Health conditions were on the average pretty good. Women on average tend to be more interested in shopping than men are.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of on average (= when two or more amounts are added together and divided by the number of amounts)