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 U.S. has undertaken a slate of efforts, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which is meant to verify whether any quantum-computing approach can achieve utility-scale operation by 2033.

From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025

DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative just advanced 11 companies to Stage B evaluation, the broadest and most technologically diverse cohort they’ve ever assessed.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025

Richard Gardiner, head of EU policy at the World Benchmarking Alliance, a Dutch nonprofit that examines the sustainability of global companies, called the current approach a “massive rowback on the progress made.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2023

Benchmarking apps reportedly aren’t affected A test done by one Korean YouTuber shows the extent of the impact this can have.

From The Verge • Mar. 3, 2022

John Butler, from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, told MPs that the UK was still 10 to 15 years behind other leading nations on that measure.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2021