metric

¹ American  

[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

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

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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 American  

[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to distance.

   metric geometry.

2. metrical.

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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 American  

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

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metric British  

/ 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

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noun

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

metric Scientific  

/ mĕt′rĭk /

1. Relating to the meter or the metric system.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

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

Explanation

If something’s metric, it’s related to a system that uses the meter as a basic measurement. If someone says they'll sell you 3 meters of silk, then you know that the metric system is being used. The word metric traces back to the French word métriquei, from mèter. The word is most often used to describe a widely used system of measurement based on the meter, called the metric system. Metric can describe the system as well as things related to the metric system. If your science teacher asks you to measure an object using metric units, you’ll be using centimeters and millimeters, rather than inches or feet. In music, metric refers to the rhythmic measures.

Example Sentences

Perceval Legallois has only had two runs since September, so he drops out on that metric, while Spanish Harlem and High Class Hero were pulled up on their last run.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Shipping tracker MarineTraffic reported that a non-Iranian tanker, loaded with 7,000 metric tons of Emirati fuel oil, transited through the strait on Thursday for the first time since the April 7 cease-fire.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Among Latino households, that metric climbed to 63% as of February, compared with 35% in August.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The total goods that pass through Ukrainian ports shot up to 97.2 million metric tons in 2024 from 62 million tons in 2023, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

By 2020, that number increased to 375 million metric tons.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly