criterion

Pronunciation: /kɹaɪˈtɪɹ.i.ən/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
  2. noun the ideal in terms of which something can be judged

Etymology

From New Latin criterion, from Ancient Greek κριτήριον (kritḗrion, “a test, a means of judging”), from κριτής (kritḗs, “judge”), from κρίνω (krínō, “to judge”); see critic.

In classic literature

Synonyms

standard, measure, touchstone

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
system of measurement
Narrower (hyponyms)
scale, baseline, grade point average, norm, benchmark, earned run average

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