criteria
Americannoun
Usage
What does criteria mean? Criteria is the plural of criterion—a standard or principle for judging, evaluating, or selecting something. Criteria are the ideals or requirements on which a judgment, evaluation, or selection is based. The plural of criterion can also be criterions, but this is rarely used. Criteria are often the particular requirements that someone or something must meet in order to be considered or qualify for something. An applicant for a job may be evaluated based on several criteria, including their education, experience, and references—each one of these standards is a criterion. Your grade in a class may be based on certain criteria, such as your test scores, your grades on homework and other assignments, and your participation in class. Similarly, a gymnast’s score is based on several criteria involving how well they performed certain moves. The word criteria is often used with the word meet, as in Your entry meets all of our criteria for inclusion in the exhibit. Sometimes, people try to use criteria as a singular noun (like how data is sometimes used), but this is generally considered not the right way to use it. Example: We assess the candidates based on several criteria, and one criterion is that they must have at least five years of experience in a similar position.
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.
“Maybe they need to adjust the criteria with their system that flags these ‘irregularities,’” said Specht.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
As part of the Dells’ charitable commitment, the first 25 million children who meet certain criteria will receive a $250 contribution.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
She added: "It's time they stopped and that sport becomes sport again: a place where you are judged on your talent and by no other criteria."
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
The appointment followed a global search that considered performance criteria, including the ability to communicate in French.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Relying on these criteria, he accepted the reliability of evidence for apparitions, for the body of the murdered bleeding in the presence of the murderer, for alchemy, and so forth.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
