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

IPSA's pay decision for 2026-27 includes a 1.5% benchmarking adjustment, as well as a 3.5% cost-of-living increase.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

So once a year, the BLS adjusts for this by benchmarking its estimates against a near-complete count of employment based on state unemployment insurance records.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

ADP’s annual benchmarking pegged 2025 private payroll growth at 398,000 jobs, down from 771,000 in 2024.

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