criterion
Americannoun
plural
criteria, criterionsnoun
-
a standard by which something can be judged or decided
-
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
Related Words
See standard.
Other Word Forms
- criterial adjective
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 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
First, we got a “speedy deletion” criterion for A.I. images, allowing editors not to spend a whole week on a deletion discussion.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
However, Pfizer said it is confident in the vaccine’s potential, noting that this criterion was met in the second pre-specified analysis and the clinically meaningful efficacy demonstrated in the trial.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
If we get to pot four and there is only one group which meets this criterion, pathway two will have to go into it.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
However, few enough stocks passed the screen that we excluded this criterion.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025
He was groping towards Right as a criterion of its own—towards Justice as an abstract thing which did not lean upon power.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
