criterion

[ krahy-teer-ee-uhn ]

noun

, plural cri·te·ri·a [krahy-, teer, -ee-, uh], cri·te·ri·ons.

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

   Synonyms: yardstick, touchstone, measure

criterion

/ kraɪˈtɪərɪən /

noun

1. a standard by which something can be judged or decided
2. philosophy a defining characteristic of something

Usage Note

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.

Usage

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

Other Words From

• cri·te·ri·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of criterion¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of criterion¹

C17: from Greek kritērion from kritēs judge, from krinein to decide

Synonym Study

See standard.

Example Sentences

In his first few picks for Cabinet secretaries, President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear—even clearer than many had predicted—that his main criterion for selection is blind loyalty.

From Slate

Instead, it was going to require just one academic criterion — that all applicants be gifted or working at a gifted level through a district designation process.

From Los Angeles Times

In one of the bonus features on the 2012 Criterion Collection edition of the film Jonze said, “Me and Charlie always think of Malkovich as the guy who made this all possible, not just the movie but everything that’s come after that. ... Not only did he not have to do this movie, it was almost insane for him to do this movie.”

From Los Angeles Times

On the extras for the Criterion Collection disc, there’s an interview where you say, “It’s not really about celebrity and it’s not really about me.”

From Los Angeles Times

His exuberance about movies both big and small, foreign and domestic, is evident when you watch YouTube videos of him geeking out in the Criterion Closet or in Paris’ Video Club.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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