criterion

Rarely cri·te·ri·um

[krahy-teer-ee-uhn]

noun

plural

criteria, criterions 

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

   Synonyms: yardstick, touchstone, measure

criterion

/ kraɪˈtɪərɪən /

noun

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

2. philosophy a defining characteristic of something

Usage

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

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 Word Forms

• criterial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of criterion¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of criterion¹

C17: from Greek kritērion from kritēs judge, from krinein to decide

Synonym Study

See standard.

Related Words

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

When To Use

What does criterion mean?

A criterion is a standard or principle for judging, evaluating, or selecting something. It’s an ideal or requirement on which the judgment, evaluation, or selection is based.The plural of criterion can be criteria or criterions, but criterions is rarely used.A criterion is often a certain requirement that someone or something must meet in order to be considered or qualify for something. An applicant for a job may be evaluated based on several criteria, including their education, experience, and references—each one of these standards is a criterion. Your grade in a class may be based on certain criteria, such as your test scores, your grades on homework and other assignments, and your participation in class. Similarly, a gymnast’s score is based on several criteria involving how well they performed certain moves.The word criteria is often used with the word meet, as in Your entry meets all of our criteria for inclusion in the exhibit. Sometimes, people try to use criteria as a singular noun (like how data is sometimes used), but this is generally considered not the right way to use it.Example: We assess the candidates based on several criteria, and one criterion is that they must have at least five years of experience in a similar position.