criterion

American  

[krahy-teer-ee-uhn] / kraɪˈtɪər i ən /

Rarely criterium

noun

• criteria,
  plural
• criterions
  plural

1. a standard of judgment or criticism; a rule or principle for evaluating or testing something.

   Synonyms:

   yardstick, touchstone, measure

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criterion British  

/ kraɪˈtɪərɪən /

noun

1. a standard by which something can be judged or decided

2. philosophy a defining characteristic of something

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Usage

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.

Criteria, the plural of criterion, is not acceptable as a singular noun: this criterion is not valid; these criteria are not valid

Synonym Usage

See standard.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• criterial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• criteria
  plural
• criterions
  plural

Etymology

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 -tory ² )

Explanation

A criterion is a standard for judging something. If you are holding a cupcake competition, your number one criterion might be the smoothness of frosting. A criterion is a category for judging, but can also be a prerequisite for an achievement. It might be an application requirement for a teaching job that you have taught already for two years. If you haven’t, then we say you haven’t "met the criterion" for job experience. Likewise, if you establish the model for something, say you deliver an exciting, profound graduation speech, we might say you "set the criterion" for future speakers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

criterion criteria criterions

We also pushed a new criterion for things that were very obviously A.I., like those tells I mentioned earlier.

From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2026

However, the predetermined statistical criterion was not met in the primary endpoint.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026

However, Pfizer said it is confident in the vaccine’s potential, noting that this criterion was met in the second pre-specified analysis and the clinically meaningful efficacy demonstrated in the trial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

With those prices, no wonder Luminate seems to have made popularity — and thus financial resources — a core criterion for eligibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

He wondered what criterion people used when they applied the tags “good” and “bad” to their fellowmen.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

When pupils meet the criteria, project workers based at the school approach families to offer help in the form mediation, parenting support and financial guidance, among other things.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

The NAS says anyone with an autism diagnosis will have been assessed against strict criteria and "have lifelong differences in communication, behaviours and focused interests compared to non-autistic people".

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Space Force opened a window for proposals from more companies, but the extremely specific criteria and a challenging timeline kept other potential bidders out of the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Two independent doctors evaluated Hoetzlein and each concluded he met the legal criteria for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity,” Ventura County Dist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

The first evidence for tool production dates from about 2.5 million years ago, and the manufacture and use of tools are the criteria by which archaeologists recognise ancient humans.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

"Yes, very pleasing; with this, and with a contemplation of the beautiful criterions of nature, I am happy."

From The Last of the Foresters Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia Frontier by John Esten Cooke

With him the criterions of merit are propriety, taste, expediency, and fitness.

From The Monikins by James Fenimore Cooper

There are two sound criterions for judging the correctness of vocal action,—first, the ease of the action, its naturalness, its flexibility.

From Resonance in Singing and Speaking by Thomas Fillebrown

They look deeper, and find other criterions whereby to judge.

From The Young Man's Guide by William A. (William Andrus) Alcott

They appreciate not the understandings of one another by such manual and muscular criterions.

From The Wanderer (Volume 3 of 5) or, Female Difficulties by Fanny Burney

Related Words

• benchmark
• norm
• precedent
• principle
• proof
• touchstone
• yardstick