criterion
Americannoun
plural
criteria, criterionsnoun
-
a standard by which something can be judged or decided
-
philosophy a defining characteristic of something
Usage
Like some other nouns borrowed from the Greek, criterion has both a Greek plural, criteria, and a plural formed on the English pattern, criterions. However, the -s plural is rarely used; the plural ending in -a is the usual form: These are the criteria for the selection of candidates. Though criteria is properly a plural noun, it is increasingly used as a singular noun, most often in speech but also occasionally in edited prose: One criteria is that the candidate must be over 18. This use of criteria as a singular noun is generally considered incorrect.
Criteria, the plural of criterion, is not acceptable as a singular noun: this criterion is not valid; these criteria are not valid
Related Words
See standard.
Other Word Forms
- criterial adjective
Etymology
Origin of criterion
First recorded in 1605–15; from Greek kritḗrion “a standard,” equivalent to kri- variant stem of krī́nein “to separate, decide” + -tērion neuter suffix of means (akin to Latin -tōrium -tory 2 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, the predetermined statistical criterion was not met in the primary endpoint.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
Fewer Lyme disease cases were accrued over the study period than anticipated, and the pre-determined statistical criterion wasn’t met in the primary endpoint.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
The unifying criterion for dementia is that the person has lost independence, Gomperts explains.
From Slate • Jan. 26, 2026
If we get to pot four and there is only one group which meets this criterion, pathway two will have to go into it.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
There must be ways of putting nucleic acids together that will function far better—by any criterion we choose—than any human being who has ever lived.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
