criterion
Americannoun
plural
criteria, criterionsnoun
-
a standard by which something can be judged or decided
-
philosophy a defining characteristic of something
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
Related Words
See standard.
Other Word Forms
- criterial adjective
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 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Fewer Lyme disease cases were accrued over the study period than anticipated, and the pre-determined statistical criterion wasn’t met in the primary endpoint.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
However, few enough stocks passed the screen that we excluded this criterion.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025
But Aziseh Mbi, 23, believes age should not be a criterion for leadership.
From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025
After slavery, she continues, color persisted as the most obvious and so the most important criterion for establishing a social hierarchy in black society.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
