benchmarking

American  

[bench-mahr-king] / ˈbɛntʃˌmɑr kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or practice of measuring something against a standard, or of testing it in order to develop such a standard.

   The system measures nursing outcomes on a numerical scale, facilitating the benchmarking of nursing practices across facilities and jurisdictions.

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Etymology

Origin of benchmarking

First recorded in 1965–70; benchmark ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The analysts are expecting a “slow normalization” based on benchmarking today’s energy shock against every major one that’s taken place in the Middle East since the closure of the Suez Canal in 1956.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

Uefa's latest benchmarking report says that Chelsea made a pre-tax loss of £355m for 2024-25.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

In 2021, Laifen began positioning its brand as a “Dyson pingti,” Ye said, using a strategy of performance benchmarking plus price advantage to break into the market.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data are slated to undergo a similar benchmarking, which will be published in the January jobs report.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

He’s interested in cutting-edge AI research, the war for talent in Silicon Valley, safety and performance benchmarking, forecasting and the revolution under way at the world’s biggest technology companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026