average vs mean

average and mean both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
average	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
mean	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As adjectives, average and mean are synonyms defined as:

average and mean: approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

As nouns, mean is a hyponym of average; that is, mean is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than average:

average: a statistic describing the location of a distribution
mean: an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

Other hyponyms of average include age norm, modal value, mode, median, median value, mean value.

average (noun)	mean (noun)
a statistic describing the location of a distribution	an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
an intermediate scale value regarded as normal or usual
(sports) the ratio of successful performances to opportunities

average (adjective)	mean (adjective)
lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered	of no value or worth
around the middle of a scale of evaluation	having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
lacking exceptional quality or ability	characterized by malice
relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in a set with an even number of values)	approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value	marked by poverty befitting a beggar
relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution	(used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt
	(used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
	very good; of the highest quality

average (verb)	mean (verb)
compute the average of	have in mind as a purpose
achieve or reach on average	intend to refer to
amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain	destine or designate for a certain purpose
	mean or intend to express or convey
	denote or connote
	have as a logical consequence
	have a specified degree of importance