often attributive
1
: a line serving as a basis
especially
: one of known measure or position used (as in surveying or navigation) to calculate or locate something
2
3
: a boundary line at either end of a court (as in tennis or basketball)
4
: a usually initial set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control
5
: a starting point
the baseline of this discussion
Examples of baseline in a Sentence
The experiment is meant only to provide a baseline for other studies.
any year or event we use as the baseline for the Renaissance is going to be at least somewhat arbitrary
Recent Examples on the Web
Within a few years, AI-native control may become the baseline for commercial properties, not a premium add-on.
—
Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Small firms plan around policy uncertainty as a baseline, despite lacking trade consultants, legal teams, and cash reserves that larger corporations use to navigate changes.
—Jacob Bennett, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The researchers used 2011-2020 as their baseline and predicted future conditions under several climate scenarios.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.
—Adeola Adeosun
robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baseline
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Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Small firms plan around policy uncertainty as a baseline, despite lacking trade consultants, legal teams, and cash reserves that larger corporations use to navigate changes.
—Jacob Bennett, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The researchers used 2011-2020 as their baseline and predicted future conditions under several climate scenarios.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.
—Adeola Adeosun
robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baseline
Cite this Entry
“Baseline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baseline. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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Medical Definition
baseline
noun
base·line
ˈbā-ˌslīn 
: a set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control
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