criterion

American  

[krahy-teer-ee-uhn] / kraɪˈtɪər i ən /

Rarely criterium

noun

• criteria,
  plural
• criterions
  plural

1. a standard of judgment or criticism; a rule or principle for evaluating or testing something.

   Synonyms:

   yardstick, touchstone, measure

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criterion British  

/ kraɪˈtɪərɪən /

noun

1. a standard by which something can be judged or decided

2. philosophy a defining characteristic of something

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Usage

Like some other nouns borrowed from the Greek, criterion has both a Greek plural, criteria, and a plural formed on the English pattern, criterions. However, the -s plural is rarely used; the plural ending in -a is the usual form: These are the criteria for the selection of candidates. Though criteria is properly a plural noun, it is increasingly used as a singular noun, most often in speech but also occasionally in edited prose: One criteria is that the candidate must be over 18. This use of criteria as a singular noun is generally considered incorrect.

Criteria, the plural of criterion, is not acceptable as a singular noun: this criterion is not valid; these criteria are not valid

Synonym Usage

See standard.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• criterial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• criteria
  plural
• criterions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of criterion

First recorded in 1605–15; from Greek kritḗrion “a standard,” equivalent to kri- variant stem of krī́nein “to separate, decide” + -tērion neuter suffix of means (akin to Latin -tōrium -tory ² )

Explanation

A criterion is a standard for judging something. If you are holding a cupcake competition, your number one criterion might be the smoothness of frosting. A criterion is a category for judging, but can also be a prerequisite for an achievement. It might be an application requirement for a teaching job that you have taught already for two years. If you haven’t, then we say you haven’t "met the criterion" for job experience. Likewise, if you establish the model for something, say you deliver an exciting, profound graduation speech, we might say you "set the criterion" for future speakers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

criterion criteria criterions

He added that as those benefits "have been phased out or superseded" he expected a "negligible number of applications" under SDC criterion next year.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

"Coolness and summer comfort have become a property criterion in their own right," she said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

“My first criterion is: Has the hospice been around for longer than 15 years?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

However, the predetermined statistical criterion was not met in the primary endpoint.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026

But the key facts were clear from De Nova Stella—that the object was fixed among the fixed stars and met every criterion to be regarded as a genuinely new star.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

In a paragraph outlining the evaluation process and criteria, they wrote:

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

If the recovery criteria are found to have been met, the secretary is asked to begin the process of delisting.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

"At the end of the day the player chose his criteria and I wish him and them the best because he's a good guy and a good player."

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Facing a dwindling pipeline of 18-year-olds, schools are increasingly agreeing to admit applicants based on a handful of criteria like high school transcripts—a free process that skips required essays, questions about extracurriculars and standardized tests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

In fact, we tend to judge children’s art according to the same criteria as adult art, only in appropriately simpler terms, and with good reason.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

These, for the advantage of the public, ought to be universally the same throughout the kingdom; being the general criterions which reduce all things to the same or an equivalent value.

From Commentaries on the Laws of England Book the First by Sir William Blackstone

But if these be fallible criterions, we will notice another that seldom deceives us. 

From The Rain Cloud or, An Account of the Nature, Properties, Dangers and Uses of Rain in Various Parts of the World by Charles Tomlinson

These constants, while they vary somewhat with any particular oil or fat, are more applicable to the edible products and are criterions where any adulteration of fat or oil is suspected.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

The amount of glycerine yield is dependent upon the percentage of free fatty acid and is one of the criterions of a good fat or oil for soap stock.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

How many tests or criterions are here named?

From Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School Modern Sunday School Manuals by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

Related Words

• benchmark
• norm
• precedent
• principle
• proof
• touchstone
• yardstick