-metric

¹ American  

1. a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -meter (barometric ) or -metry (geometric ).

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metric ² American  

[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to distance.

   metric geometry.

2. metrical.

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noun

1. Mathematics. a nonnegative real-valued function having properties analogous to those of the distance between points on a real line, as the distance between two points being independent of the order of the points, the distance between two points being zero if, and only if, the two points coincide, and the distance between two points being less than or equal to the sum of the distances from each point to an arbitrary third point.

metric ³ American  

[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to the meter or to the metric system.

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noun

1. Often metrics a standard for measuring or evaluating something, especially one that uses figures or statistics.

   new metrics for gauging an organization’s diversity;

   pretty good by any metric.

metric British  

/ ˈmɛtrɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metre or metric system

2. maths denoting or relating to a set containing pairs of points for each of which a non-negative real number ρ( x, y ) (the distance) can be defined, satisfying specific conditions

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noun

1. maths the function ρ( x, y ) satisfying the conditions of membership of such a set (a metric space )

metric Scientific  

/ mĕt′rĭk /

1. Relating to the meter or the metric system.

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Usage

What does -metric mean? The combining form -metric is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to a measure or the process of measurement.” It denotes the adjective form of words ending in -meter and -metry. The form -metric is often used in scientific terms.The form -metric comes from Greek -metrikos, meaning “of or relating to measure.” Find out how -metrikos is related to diameter, isometric, and metronome at our entries for these words.What are variants of -metric?While -metric doesn't have any variants, it's related to the form -metrics, as in biometrics. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -metrics.

Etymology

Origin of -metric¹

< Greek -metrikos; meter ², -metry, -ic

Origin of metric¹

1750–60; < Latin metricus < Greek metrikós of, relating to measuring. See meter ², -ic

Origin of metric¹

1860–65; < French métrique, derivative of mètre meter ¹; -ic

Example Sentences

Gross profit—a closely watched metric for companies operating in the semiconductor industry—came in at 5.07 billion euros, generating a 52.2% margin that beat consensus and came within company guidance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization after leases—the company’s preferred metric, which strips out exceptional and other one-off items—increased 5.1% to 662 million euros.

From The Wall Street Journal

Revenue rose to 1.48 billion euros from 1.445 billion euros, mainly driven by a 1.8% increase in service revenue—a key metric in the industry—to 1.35 billion euros.

From The Wall Street Journal

That makes it an important metric for investors—analysts expect AT&T to report 425,000 post-paid net phone additions for the final quarter of 2025.

From Barron's

And automotive gross margins excluding regulatory credits, a metric closely watched by investors, is expected to be 14.4% — lower than the two prior quarters, which would show the impact of those expired EV tax credits.

From MarketWatch