metric

¹

[me-trik]

adjective

1. pertaining to the meter or to the metric system.

noun

1. Often metrics a standard for measuring or evaluating something, especially one that uses figures or statistics.

   new metrics for gauging an organization’s diversity;

   pretty good by any metric.

metric

²

[me-trik]

adjective

1. pertaining to distance.

   metric geometry.

2. metrical.

noun

1. Mathematics.,  a nonnegative real-valued function having properties analogous to those of the distance between points on a real line, as the distance between two points being independent of the order of the points, the distance between two points being zero if, and only if, the two points coincide, and the distance between two points being less than or equal to the sum of the distances from each point to an arbitrary third point.

-metric

³

1. a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -meter (barometric ) or -metry (geometric ).

metric

/ ˈmɛtrɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metre or metric system

2. maths denoting or relating to a set containing pairs of points for each of which a non-negative real number ρ( x, y ) (the distance) can be defined, satisfying specific conditions

noun

1. maths the function ρ( x, y ) satisfying the conditions of membership of such a set (a metric space )

metric

1. Relating to the meter or the metric system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of metric¹

1860–65; < French métrique, derivative of mètre meter ¹; -ic

Origin of metric²

1750–60; < Latin metricus < Greek metrikós of, relating to measuring. See meter ², -ic

Origin of metric³

< Greek -metrikos; meter ², -metry, -ic

Example Sentences

The 31-year-old Smart, who signed with the Lakers after the Washington Wizards bought out his contract, still grades in the 80th percentile of every defensive metric, Redick said.

From Los Angeles Times

SpaceX primarily provides launch services to commercial and military satellite customers with its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which has a payload of up to 23 metric tons.

From Los Angeles Times

Its larger Falcon Heavy boosts that to nearly 64 metric tons, while a fully resusable Starship could launch up to 150 metric tons.

From Los Angeles Times

A 2010 revival was unsuccessful; dates were canceled for low ticket sales, though with the likes of Cat Power, Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Metric, Mary J. Blige and Tegan and Sara joining the returning veterans, it would have been a good day out.

From Los Angeles Times

The giveaway, Lockett points out, is pegging this benchmark to the number of vehicles rather than the number of paid drives, a more appropriate metric.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does -metric mean?

The combining form -metric is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to a measure or the process of measurement.” It denotes the adjective form of words ending in -meter and -metry. The form -metric is often used in scientific terms.The form -metric comes from Greek -metrikos, meaning “of or relating to measure.” Find out how -metrikos is related to diameter, isometric, and metronome at our entries for these words.What are variants of -metric?While -metric doesn't have any variants, it's related to the form -metrics, as in biometrics. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -metrics.