touchstone

American  

[tuhch-stohn] / ˈtʌtʃˌstoʊn /

noun

• touchstones
  plural

1. a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing.

   Synonyms:

   pattern, model, measure, standard

2. a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.

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touchstone British  

/ ˈtʌtʃˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a criterion or standard by which judgment is made

2. a hard dark siliceous stone, such as basalt or jasper, that is used to test the quality of gold and silver from the colour of the streak they produce on it

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• touchstones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of touchstone

First recorded in 1475–85; touch + stone

Explanation

Use the noun touchstone to describe a basis for comparison. For example, a filmmaker's touchstone might be her all-time favorite movie; she wants her movie to be that good or similar to it in some way. Touchstone as it is defined today comes from an actual stone. In the late 15th century, gold and silver was rubbed, or touched against black quartz — the touchstone — to determine the purity of the metals. This was done by looking at the color of the streaks left on the stone. This is why a touchstone, in the figurative sense as it is used today, is a measuring tool.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

touchstone touchstones

Also opening on Broadway in 1959 was Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece “A Raisin in the Sun,” a touchstone of American drama.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

The frontman says that in recent years he’d “tried to get away from using the word ‘heart’ because that had been a touchstone for so many of our early records.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

Unsurprisingly John Chamberlain’s metal sculptures that captured the energy of Abstract Expressionism in three dimensions are a touchstone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The statement continued, “We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.”

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2023

Its Olympian tone made it a perennial touchstone at those political occasions requiring platitudinous wisdom.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

But the air, space and instrumental cohesion of touchstones like, say, Bonnie Raitt are nowhere to be found.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

And just always having that through line of, “What were the touchstones of Carolyn as a young woman, and where did I want her to end up physically?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

Having these cultural and historical touchstones become anthropomorphized not only takes viewers to places they might not get a chance to visit in person but also to make history more approachable.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

And of course, Bad Bunny is hugely popular across the United States, which has among the largest Spanish-speaking populations globally -- so why wouldn't he take part in one of the country's cultural touchstones?

From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026

Family mottoes, touchstones, prayers of sorts, they boasted of honor and glory, promised loyalty and truth, swore faith and courage.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• barometer
• criterion