benchmark

or bench mark

[ bench-mahrk ]

noun

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

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

/ ˈbɛntʃˌmɑːk /

noun

1. 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 BM
2. 1. a criterion by which to measure something; standard; reference point
   2. ( as modifier )

      a benchmark test

verb

1. to measure or test against a benchmark

   the firm benchmarked its pay against that in industry

Word History and Origins

Origin of benchmark¹

First recorded in 1835–45; bench + mark ¹

Example Sentences

Konijnendijk said he devised the benchmark to help set a 'bare minimum' for nature in cities.

From Science Daily

"Getting more parks and trees into cities is complicated work, and I realised that a simple metric could take the mystery out of it and set a proper benchmark based on evidence," he said.

From Science Daily

"With the techniques our team has developed, we can calculate the '3-30-300' benchmark for any city in the world," said Dirk Voets, Senior Advisor Geospatial at Cobra Groeninzicht.

From Science Daily

Only Seattle and Singapore passed the 30% canopy benchmark, with 45% and 75% of buildings in these cities enjoying adequate shade, respectively.

From Science Daily

Professor Wolfgang Weisser, from the Technical University of Munich, said metrics that benchmark the adequacy of green infrastructure at a neighbourhood level in relation to human wellbeing were still rare.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• criterion
• gauge
• standard
• yardstick