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

It is difficult to directly compare AI chips, which can produce very different benchmarking results under different configurations.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 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

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