criterion
[ krahy-teer-ee-uhn ]
/ kraɪˈtɪər i ən /
noun, plural cri·te·ri·a [krahy-teer-ee-uh], /kraɪˈtɪər i ə/, cri·te·ri·ons.
a standard of judgment or criticism; a rule or principle for evaluating or testing something.
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Origin of criterion
First recorded in 1605–15; from Greek kritḗrion “a standard,” equivalent to kri- variant stem of krī́nein “to separate, decide” + -tērion neuter suffix of means (akin to Latin -tōrium -tory2)
synonym study for criterion
See standard.
usage note for criterion
Like some other nouns borrowed from the Greek, criterion has both a Greek plural, criteria, and a plural formed on the English pattern, criterions. However, the -s plural is rarely used; the plural ending in -a is the usual form: These are the criteria for the selection of candidates. Though criteria is properly a plural noun, it is increasingly used as a singular noun, most often in speech but also occasionally in edited prose: One criteria is that the candidate must be over 18. This use of criteria as a singular noun is generally considered incorrect.
OTHER WORDS FROM criterion
cri·te·ri·al, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH criterion
criteria , criterion (see usage note at the current entry)Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for criterion
criterion
/ (kraɪˈtɪərɪən) /
noun plural -ria (-rɪə) or -rions
a standard by which something can be judged or decided
philosophy a defining characteristic of something
Word Origin for criterion
C17: from Greek kritērion from kritēs judge, from krinein to decide
usage for criterion
Criteria, the plural of criterion, is not acceptable as a singular noun: this criterion is not valid; these criteria are not valid
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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