Phrase guide

Mendoza line

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A .200 batting average, which is around the minimum batting average a player with strong defensive skills can have and still stay in the major leagues. Named for Mario Mendoza.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • His recent slump has put him perilously close to the Mendoza line; he may be headed to AAA soon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The line dividing acceptable mediocrity from unacceptable mediocrity

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I don’t think you could find any other figure in politics who has run this far below the Mendoza line and still managed to get taken seriously.
  • A sub-$2,000 per theater average... is the Mendoza Line of box office numbers.
  • Republican pollster Neil Newhouse... argues that these numbers have crossed below the political "Mendoza line"...Republicans abandoning Bush. MSNBC

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

After shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of minimally competent hitting.