or•di•nar•y^*ˈɔr dnˌɛr i(adj.; n.)(pl.)-nar•ies.

1. (adj.)of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional.

2. plain or undistinguished.

   Category: Common Vocabulary

3. somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre.

   Category: Common Vocabulary

4. customary; usual; normal.

5. (of jurisdiction) immediate, as contrasted with that which is delegated.

6. (of officials) belonging to the regular staff or the fully recognized class.

7. (n.)the commonplace or average condition, degree, etc.:

   ability far above the ordinary.

8. something regular, customary, or usual.

9. the service of the Mass exclusive of the proper.

   Category: Religion

10. (formerly, in England) a member of the clergy appointed to prepare condemned prisoners for death.

    Category: Religion

11. a bishop, archbishop, or other ecclesiastic or his deputy, in his capacity as an ex officio ecclesiastical authority.

    Category: Religion

12. (in some U.S. states) a judge of a court of probate.

    Category: Law

13. Brit. a complete meal at a restaurant or inn with all courses included at one fixed price.

    Category: British

14. a restaurant, public house, or dining room serving all customers the same standard meal or fare.

15. a high bicycle of an early type, with one large wheel in front and one small wheel behind.

16. a simple, common heraldic charge, as the chevron.

    Category: Heraldry

Idioms for ordinary:

1. in ordinary,in regular service:

   a physician in ordinary to the king.

   Category: Idiom

2. out of the ordinary, unusual. unusually good.

   Category: Idiom

^* Syn: See common.

Origin of ordinary:

1250–1300; ME < L ōrdinārius regular, of the usual order. See order

or′di•nar`i•ness(n.)