benchmark

American  

[bench-mahrk] / ˈbɛntʃˌmɑrk /

Or bench mark

noun

benchmarks plural

1. a standard of excellence, achievement, etc., against which similar things must be measured or judged.

   The new hotel is a benchmark in opulence and comfort.

2. any standard or reference by which others can be measured or judged.

   The current price for crude oil may become the benchmark.

3. Computers. an established point of reference against which computers or programs can be measured in tests comparing their performance, reliability, etc.

4. Surveying. Usually bench mark a marked point of known or assumed elevation from which other elevations may be established. BM

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or resulting in a benchmark.

   benchmark test, benchmark study.

verb (used with object)

1. to test (something) in order to develop a standard.

   IT benchmarked the new software.

2. to measure (something) against a standard.

   executive salaries benchmarked against the industry.

benchmark British  

/ ˈbɛntʃˌmɑːk /

noun

1.  BM.  a mark on a stone post or other permanent feature, at a point whose exact elevation and position is known: used as a reference point in surveying

2. 1. a criterion by which to measure something; standard; reference point

   2. ( as modifier )

      a benchmark test

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verb

1. to measure or test against a benchmark

   the firm benchmarked its pay against that in industry

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• benchmarks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of benchmark

First recorded in 1835–45; bench + mark ¹

Explanation

A benchmark is a standard that other similar items can be compared to — that way everything is measured against a common standard. Benchmark originally referred to a mark made on a wall or building by a surveyor for use as a reference point. The word still retains that meaning, but nowadays you’re more likely to hear it used in a figurative sense to describe a standard used to measure the worth of something. A particular item is selected as a benchmark, and other similar items are compared to the benchmark. A popular sitcom may be the benchmark other shows are judged against.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

benchmark benchmarks

The benchmark index was recently 10.3% lower, with chip-making index heavyweights SK Hynix slumping 13% and Samsung Electronics dropping 12.0%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Their title bid last year garnered worldwide acclaim, but building on that benchmark is a tough ask.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Both the U.S. benchmark and the global benchmark saw their largest one-day percentage declines in at least two months, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

It came as respite for Gulf shipping and the oil industry, with international benchmark Brent dropping six percent to around $86 a barrel.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Epic in scope, violence, and imagination, Deathstorm is a new benchmark in the fantasy genre and cements forever G. M. Pennington’s status as the American Tolkien.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

He also said Calamos had back-tested performance data for stocks the team had sold over the subsequent six- and 12-month periods relative to performance benchmarks.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

The San Francisco-based startup, a chief rival to OpenAI, said the model tops industry benchmarks for coding and knowledge work while consuming fewer computing resources than earlier versions.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

The Nasdaq composite saw the largest gains among major U.S. benchmarks, climbing 1.3%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

In these independent benchmarks, external, Kimi K3 ranked first in web interface engineering, outperforming Anthropic's Fable system, external in blind human-preference tests.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

When it’s a criminal case, the plan contains measurable benchmarks.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

• criterion
• gauge
• standard
• yardstick