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

And allowing the runner-up to pick up the baton after the winner withdrew would be a simple criterion for the party to move forward.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

“My first criterion is: Has the hospice been around for longer than 15 years?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 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

He was groping towards Right as a criterion of its own—towards Justice as an abstract thing which did not lean upon power.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

There are also examples of advisers pushing for mortgages for friends and romantic partners who lack the proper down payment, income or other criteria needed, the people said and documents show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

However, two locations - Usk and Exeter - have continued to just reach their heatwave criteria since then and have now reached 20 consecutive days - the longest run so far this year.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

“That one piece of criteria is often the one that beats everything else.”

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

Since the 2010s, UC has also updated its course criteria to match statewide academic standards, such as Common Core math standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

He presents unusual criteria in what he is looking for.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

These, for the advantage of the public, ought to be universally the same throughout the kingdom; being the general criterions which reduce all things to the same or an equivalent value.

From Commentaries on the Laws of England Book the First by Blackstone, William, Sir

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 Fillebrown, Thomas

It is a sort of extra, having nothing to do with criterions of intelligence or mental development, like the repeater movement in a watch.

From Camp and Trail by White, Stewart Edward

Certain rot-producing fungi impart to wood characteristic colors which thus become criterions of weakness.

From The Mechanical Properties of Wood Including a Discussion of the Factors Affecting the Mechanical Properties, and Methods of Timber Testing by Record, Samuel J.

For a few words of this class, however, there are double plurals in use; as, automata or atomatons, criteria or criterions, parhelia or parhelions; and the plural of phenomenon appears to be always phenomena.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold

Related Words

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