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

---

criterion British  

/ kraɪˈtɪərɪən /

noun

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

2. philosophy a defining characteristic of something

---

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

Known as the Lawson criterion, this equation defines the conditions required for ignition.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

Or think of religion, where Mr. Diamond’s criterion of success—widespread devotion by millions—is hardly the only point.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Speaking in the assembly on Monday, Givan said the context of pre-school places is "very different" compared to when the SDC criterion were introduced.

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

After slavery, she continues, color persisted as the most obvious and so the most important criterion for establishing a social hierarchy in black society.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Patients must meet certain criteria for a diagnosis: a combination of clinical symptoms and lesions characteristic of MS that show up on an MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

He said Barbabella fit all of the criteria and he pushed for him to get the job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Next season, however, all it would take is being among the top 24 teams as deemed by the 13-member committee, which considers on-field performance, head-to-head results and strength of schedule the primary criteria.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Each one was manually checked by BBC Verify reporters, who excluded any which did not meet the criteria above.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Widget asks often if the eight years counts if it is a combined total, in which case they already meet the criteria.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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

"Yes, very pleasing; with this, and with a contemplation of the beautiful criterions of nature, I am happy."

From The Last of the Foresters Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia Frontier by John Esten Cooke

Scent, in Jack's opinion, was one of the criterions of a gentleman.

From Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour by Robert Smith Surtees

The psychologic-historical evolution alone can bring us, through the changes which it produces in the feelings, beyond these criterions.

From A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution by C. M. Williams

Here I got acquainted with my world, and soon had my criterions of judgment.

From Darkwater Voices from Within the Veil by W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt) Du Bois

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---