reference point

American  

[ref-uh-ruhns point, ref-ruhns] / ˈrɛf ə rəns ˈpɔɪnt, ˈrɛf rəns /

noun

plural

reference points

1. something used as a comparison to aid in evaluation or understanding.

2. a particular physical location used to navigate an area or find an object.

---

Example Sentences

For decades, the SMC has served as an important reference point for studying how galaxies form stars and evolve.

From Science Daily

Dancing was just the only reference point I had.

From Literature

Contracts to buy and sell oil will often use Brent as a reference point, so it has significant influence on global energy costs.

From BBC

"We now have a reference point that allows us to accurately identify more scrappy finds and map out evolutionary transitions in anatomy and body size."

From Science Daily

Lucy and Ricky Ricardo‘s love story was often a reference point for Roberts throughout his time on “Outlander.”

From Los Angeles Times